A detailed report on the Nakba 78 demonstrations in Manhattan where protesters displayed flags of terrorist groups and called for the abolition of Israel.
On May 15, 2026, the streets of Lower Manhattan became the stage for a highly contentious anti-Israel demonstration known as Nakba 78 . Roughly 500 protesters descended upon Washington Square Park, transforming a portion of the public space into a rally ground.
The event was marked by a heavy presence of Palestinian flags and an atmosphere of intense volatility. As the gathering intensified, chants of globalize the intifada echoed through the park, with several speakers openly declaring that the state of Israel has no right to exist and asserting that Palestinians would reclaim the land by any means necessary.
This event took place during a period of heightened tension, reflecting a broader global trend of coordinated protests between various leftist and Islamist groups who seek to challenge the existing geopolitical order. The visual elements of the protest were particularly alarming to observers and authorities. Several masked demonstrators were seen displaying imagery explicitly linked to the military wings of terrorist organizations.
One young protester wore the flag of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military arm of Hamas, draped over his shoulders like a cape. This specific flag featured a masked armed fighter beside the Dome of the Rock, accompanied by Arabic script representing the shahada. Other participants carried flags depicting Abu Obaida, the former spokesman for Hamas who became a symbol of the group after the October 7 attacks.
Additionally, the bright yellow flag of Hezbollah, characterized by its stylized assault rifle insignia, was waved prominently above the crowd. Many attendees wore green headbands associated with Hamas, signaling a clear alignment with the militant group. The organizational backbone of the protest appeared to be well-funded and professional. Banners and signs were pre-printed and distributed in large quantities, with some protesters arriving with bags full of specialized gear.
Groups such as Within Our Lifetime and the Muslim American Society of New York were identified as key players. Nerdeen Kiswani, the co-founder of Within Our Lifetime, led the crowd in aggressive chants and explicitly stated that the state of Israel and Zionism must be abolished. Similarly, Abdullah Akl of the Muslim American Society Youth Center invoked the phrase from the river to the sea, a slogan frequently interpreted as a call for the total elimination of the Israeli state.
Financial records indicate that the Muslim American Society of New York, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, reported significant revenue in 2024, raising questions about the funding behind these organized demonstrations. The timing of the protest coincided with official condemnations of terrorism by city leadership. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke out against a suspected terror plot involving Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, a commander within the Kataeb Hezbollah operation in Iraq.
Mamdani emphasized that antisemitism and violent extremism have no place in the city and described such hatred as despicable. However, the proximity of the Mayor's statement to the actual events in the park highlighted a stark contrast between the city's official stance and the rhetoric being shouted by the demonstrators. The protesters' actions were not isolated, as similar groups had previously targeted Jewish synagogues and community centers in the city, leading to widely shared videos of harassment and intimidation.
This convergence of far-left activists and Islamist sympathizers suggests a strategic alliance aimed at destabilizing the current geopolitical status quo. The use of terror-linked symbolism in a major American city underscores the growing boldness of these movements. The Nakba 78 protests serve as a case study in how professionalized nonprofit funding and grassroots militancy can merge to create high-visibility disruptions.
As these groups continue to promote violence and anti-American sentiment under the guise of political activism, security agencies and city officials face the daunting task of balancing the right to protest with the necessity of preventing the glorification of designated terrorist organizations. The events in Manhattan are seen by many as a warning sign of increasing radicalization within urban political movements
Nakba 78 Manhattan Protests Hamas Hezbollah Anti-Zionism
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