Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-07**Lead**
On the one-year anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, thousands of anti-Israel demonstrators took to the streets in major cities across the United States, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. Chants of 'long live the intifada' and 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' were heard at multiple rallies, drawing swift backlash from Jewish organizations and political leaders who condemned the language as incitement to violence.
**Context**
The protests, organized by a coalition of groups including the Palestinian Youth Movement, Within Our Lifetime, and various campus-based student organizations, coincided with the first anniversary of the deadliest single day for Jews since the Holocaust. On October 7, 2023, Hamas-led militants killed approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel and took more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas.
In New York City, demonstrators gathered in Times Square and marched toward the Israeli Consulate, where police established a heavy presence. Video footage posted on social media showed protesters waving Palestinian flags and holding signs reading 'Resistance is justified' and 'Stop the genocide.' In Los Angeles, a large crowd assembled outside the Federal Building in Westwood, a neighborhood with a significant Jewish population. Chicago saw a rally in the Loop, while in Washington, D.C., protesters marched near the White House.
The chants of 'intifada' — an Arabic term that translates to 'uprising' and is historically associated with two Palestinian uprisings against Israeli occupation that involved suicide bombings, shootings, and stabbings — drew particular concern. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has classified the phrase 'long live the intifada' as a call for violent resistance against Israel and Jews. The phrase 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' has been similarly criticized by Jewish groups and the U.S. House of Representatives, which passed a resolution in April 2024 condemning it as antisemitic.
**Analysis**
The scale and tone of the October 7 anniversary protests reflect a deepening polarization in American public discourse over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While many participants framed their activism as opposition to Israeli military operations in Gaza, the explicit invocation of 'intifada' — a term that for many Israelis and Jews evokes memories of suicide bombings that killed hundreds of civilians during the Second Intifada (2000–2005) — has widened the gap between pro-Palestinian activists and mainstream Jewish institutions.
This dynamic has significant implications for U.S. domestic politics and campus life. Since October 2023, university campuses have become flashpoints for protests, encampments, and confrontations between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel students. Several university presidents resigned or faced no-confidence votes amid criticism of their handling of antisemitism complaints. The anniversary rallies suggest that the issue will remain a potent force in American civic life, potentially influencing voter turnout in the upcoming presidential election, particularly among Jewish voters, Arab American voters, and young progressives.
Law enforcement agencies in several cities reported no major arrests or violence as of the evening of October 7, though police in New York said they were monitoring the situation closely. In a statement, the New York Police Department said it had deployed additional officers to areas around the Israeli Consulate and other sensitive locations.
**Fontes**
- Anti-Defamation League (ADL) – statements on 'intifada' and antisemitic slogans - New York Police Department – public briefing on protest deployments - Reuters – coverage of October 7 anniversary protests in multiple U.S. cities - Associated Press – reports on chants and rally attendance - U.S. House of Representatives Resolution 883 (April 2024) – condemning 'from the river to the sea' - Israeli government official casualty figures for October 7, 2023 - Gaza Health Ministry – casualty figures for the subsequent conflict