In anticipation of protests over the Israel-Hamas war, all police officers in New York City have been instructed to be in uniform on Friday. Despite officials confirming that there are “no new specific threats” to the city, concerns were raised after a former Hamas leader called for protests in the Muslim world and support from other nations in the fight against Israel, according to Reuters. With a surge in Google searches for “nyc threats friday” by 3,300% and “hamas nyc friday the 13th” by 2,400%, the city has taken precautionary measures to ensure the safety of its residents. Governor Kathy Hochul reassured the public that there are no intelligence reports about any threats to the state, but increased patrols have been implemented in certain areas to provide peace of mind to New Yorkers, as reported by WNBC.
Tensions escalated on Thursday when a large number of people gathered at Columbia University to hold both pro-Israel and pro-Hamas demonstrations. The confrontations became intense enough to prompt the university to close its campus, following an assault on an Israeli student the previous day, as stated in the New York Times. Similar demonstrations took place on other campuses in the city. A Columbia student who observed a pro-Palestine demonstration expressed feelings of discouragement, while Caroline Smith, a 23-year-old with 10 family members in Israel, felt unsupported and only found solace in the support of her Jewish friends.
Demonstrations have also taken place in other countries, leading many to increase security measures at synagogues, cultural centers, and other gathering spots. In response to a rise in antisemitic acts since the Hamas attack on Israel, France’s interior minister ordered local officials to ban pro-Palestinian demonstrations. President Emmanuel Macron urged the nation not to allow the war to create tension within France, according to the AP. Macron emphasized the importance of unity in the face of adversity. (Read more Israel-Hamas war stories.)
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