Rallies continue across NYC as war intensifies between Israel, Hamas
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- The NYPD is increasing security across the city Wednesday amid demonstrations over the Israel-Hamas war.
All officers were ordered to report for duty in uniform. The planned rallies come a day after an explosion at a hospital in Gaza left hundreds dead.
The NYPD said there are no specific or credible threats but, as one source put it, the police cannot ignore the volatility overseas.
The department released the following statement Wednesday, asking New Yorkers to remain vigilant:
"We are currently in a heightened threat environment and tensions have been rising since the assault against Israel on October 7th. The NYPD is doing everything we can do to forestall future violence in our city. However, we know the ongoing events overseas may resonate with individuals domestically and that is hard to anticipate. The NYPD asks all New Yorkers to remain vigilant and reminds everyone if they see something to say something. For these reasons, the NYPD is continuing with our Citywide all-out deployment and all in-service training will continue to be postponed until further notice.
Mayor Adams said Wednesday the adjustments in NYPD posture were done out of an abundance of caution and not because of any specific or credible threat.
However, the mayor cautioned that spiraling violence in the Middle East resonates at home.
"Those things that play out on the international stage, they play out on the streets of New York," Adams said.
Meanwhile the FBI, DHS and National Counterterrorism Center today released a joint intelligence bulletin saying again that the potential for violence in the US is heightened because of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
"While the terrorism threat in the United States has remained heightened throughout 2023, these recent events have sharpened the focus of potential attacks on targeted individuals and institutions perceived as symbolic of or tried to the conflict," the bulletin said.
Demonstrations in recent days have remained peaceful. The police are continuing outreach to Jewish and Muslim communities to reassure them about security and safety.
On Wednesday morning, the UJA-Federation of New York joined local politicians at Dag Hammarskjld Plaza near the United Nations Headquarters, demanding the safe release of those held captive by Hamas. Families of hostages were welcome to speak at that event.
"I have a very, very simple demand. Drop the politics. Drop the hate. Bring them home. Not later today. Right now. That's it. That's all that needs to be done. Prioritize bringing the hostages home," Nave Strauss, whose cousin is among those being held hostage, said.
"We're just outraged that in the face of one of the largest mass hostage taking in history, that the world has not risen up to demand the immediate, unconditional release of these 200 women, children, senior citizens, Holocaust survivors, people with disabilities, that the U.N. has not clearly and strongly and repeatedly demanded the immediate, unconditional release of these 200 souls," Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine said.
Inside the U.N., the United States vetoed a resolution that would have condemned Hamas' attacks against Israel and all violence against civilians and urged humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.
CUNY students protesting Israel's military response also denounced their university's chancellor's statement on the conflict, saying it only seemed to express sympathy for Israeli victims of the violence.
"Not one of those words mentioned Palestine, Palestinians, or anything about those of us like myself who are Palestinian who are members of this community," one CUNY student said. "We ask for him to immediately retract that statement, apologize for it, and come up with something better, which I'm sure he can do."
As the group shouted at a small counter rally, members of a Jewish student group called "Not in Our Name" accused Israel of acting counter to Jewish values.
The largest demonstration took place Wednesday night in Astoria, Queens, where thousands of pro-Palestinians spilled onto Steinway Street.
They expressed frustration at the U.S. media, President Joe Biden and Governor Kathy Hochul, and they say they will be out on the streets until they get what they want.
On Tuesday, people gathered in Washington Square Park for dueling, but peaceful protests. No one was arrested.
The NYPD says officers should keep their vehicle lights on while on patrol to stay aware of their surroundings.
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