Israel has responded to a video showing a combined LGBTQ and Palestinian flag being flown at a protest in New York, as activists marched through London.
In a post shared by Israel's X account, accompanied by a video, the message read: "A combined LGBTQ + Palestine flag in New York protest today. Why are there so many 'queers FOR Palestine', but absolutely no 'queers IN Palestine'?" The post also carried the message from Israel: "Looking forward to seeing Hamas raise the rainbow flag across Gaza as a thank you for your solidarity."
The protest in New York comes as fighting in Gaza continues for a 23rd day, with Israel launching an escalating air and ground campaign against Hamas-ruled Gaza.
The UN has warned that civil order is "starting to break down" in the besieged Palestinian territory. Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets of Brooklyn, New York's largest district, to voice their anger at Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
The city, home to between 1.6 and two million Jews and hundreds of thousands of Muslims, has seen a wave of demonstrations, rallies, and vigils in support of both the Palestinians and Israel.
Left-wing American Jewish activists have also expressed their opposition to Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza. Hundreds of people were arrested when police broke up a large demonstration of mostly Jewish New Yorkers who had taken over the main hall of Manhattan's Grand Central station to protest Israel's bombardment of Gaza.
Protest organizer Nerdeen Kiswani criticized American politicians for their unwavering support of Israel, stating that their stance "means that they provide unconditional support to the killing of our people."
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York State Governor Kathy Hochul have both pledged unconditional support to Israel, with Adams assuring pro-Israel rallies that Israel's "fight" is New York's fight too. The protests in New York and London have drawn thousands of demonstrators, waving placards that read "Free Palestine" and "By any means necessary."
However, the demonstrations have also been marred by shocking incidents, including protesters chanting for the massacre of Jews and bouncing effigies of dead babies on flags.
The Metropolitan Police in London have been accused of allowing Central London to become a "no-go zone" for Jews, as thousands of people marched in support of Palestine, some carrying effigies of dead babies and chanting "globalize the Intifada."
Police made nine arrests following the protest, with some being treated as linked to hate crimes. A video also emerged showing a woman taking part in the pro-Palestine march through London, holding an effigy of a dead baby and shouting "Slaughter the Jews." Police are appealing for information to identify her and another woman who led the chant.
In Athens, more than 5,000 people protested, calling for an end to the "massacre" of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The demonstrators branded Israel a "murderous state" and denounced the Greek government for abstaining at a recent UN vote for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has steeled the nation for a "long and difficult war" ahead, while the Red Cross has voiced shock at the "intolerable" human suffering inside Gaza. Despite calls for a ceasefire, Israel has intensified its campaign against Hamas, which launched an attack on October 7 that killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapped 230 others, according to Israeli officials.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza claims that the Israeli bombardment has killed more than 8,000 people, mainly civilians and half of them children. Israel's army has said that "stage two" of the war started with ground incursions, and it has struck another 450 Hamas targets within the past 24 hours. Netanyahu has vowed to "destroying the military and leadership capabilities of Hamas, and bringing the hostages back home." The situation in Gaza has become increasingly desperate, with more than half of its 2.4 million residents displaced, according to the UN. Essential supplies of food, water, medicine, and shelter are dwindling, and civil order is starting to break down.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has reported that "thousands of people" broke into several of its warehouses and distribution centers in Gaza, grabbing basic survival items. Donkey cart driver Raafat Najjar said that there is no fuel, and they transport people on carts. Communications were cut off for days after Israel severed internet lines, but connectivity is gradually returning. The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric, has expressed shock at the "intolerable level of human suffering" in Gaza and called on all sides to de-escalate. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has said that Israel is attacking "above the ground and below," referring to Hamas's tunnel network.
Israeli fighter jets have dropped leaflets over Gaza City, warning residents that the northern area is now a "battlefield" and urging them to evacuate immediately. Hamas authorities have reported that a "large number" of people were killed overnight in strikes on two refugee camps in northern Gaza. The Israeli military has reiterated its call for Palestinian civilians to go south to a safer area where they can receive water, food, and medicine. Despite the humanitarian crisis, Israel has vowed to expand its humanitarian efforts to Gaza. However, many residents are reluctant to leave, as all areas are considered dangerous.
Netanyahu has acknowledged the intelligence failure that exposed Israel to the October 7 attack and promised a thorough examination of the failure. While Israel mourns its dead, sympathy has grown for the families whose loved ones were abducted by Hamas. Hamas has released four hostages but claims that "almost 50" have been killed by Israeli air strikes.
Netanyahu has assured hostage relatives that Israel will exhaust every option to bring them home. Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, has stated that it is prepared to release the hostages if Israel frees the Palestinian prisoners it is holding. The ground operations in Gaza have raised fears that Israel's other enemies, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, may enter the conflict.
The United States, Israel's ally, has warned Israel's enemies to stay out and has reinforced its military presence in the region. Skirmishes have intensified on the Israeli-Lebanese border with Hezbollah, raising fears of a new front. Shelling in south Lebanon injured a UN peacekeeper, and Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has warned that Israel's "crimes have crossed the red lines, which may force everyone to take action."
Violence has also increased in the occupied West Bank since the October 7 attacks, with more than 110 Palestinians killed, according to the territory's health ministry. The situation in the region remains tense as Israel continues its campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
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