Staff Reports
Pro-Palestinian activists are under fire for their actions of tearing down posters depicting Israeli hostages taken by Hamas. The New York Times reports that some of these activists argue that the flyers are “disgusting.” The posters were put up by Jewish Americans in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks, with the intention of raising awareness about the 220 hostages held by Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States.
‘Bait People To Take Them Down’: Pro-Palestinian Protesters Defend Tearing Down Posters Of Kidnapped Israeli Hostages https://t.co/XKmsPvhTau via @DailyCaller
— Chris 🇺🇸 (@Chris_1791) October 31, 2023
Local artist Nitzan Mintz, who contributed to the creation of these posters, claims that their purpose is to shed light on the plight of the kidnapped individuals and highlight the discrimination faced by the Jewish community. Despite the seemingly well-intentioned nature of these posters, pro-Palestinian protesters have regularly torn them down. Their reasoning? Some activists claim that the posters are “disgusting” and merely a form of bait.
Miles Grant, a self-proclaimed pro-Palestinian who is not a Zionist, expressed his dismay at the lack of context surrounding the posters. He accuses the activists responsible for putting them up of not truly caring about people’s lives. Grant condemns their actions, stating that it is “disgusting” how they are trying to destroy lives.
Interestingly, one woman from Brooklyn admitted to tearing down the posters after falsely being told by a friend that they were anti-Islamic propaganda. Rafael Shimunov, a Jewish activist with Art V War, does not endorse the removal of the posters but argues that they should also include Palestinians who have gone missing in the conflict. He believes that the posters are being used to target Palestinians in the community.
Videos posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, captured the confrontations between activists tearing the posters down and those demanding an explanation. One individual who took offense at the removal of the posters asserts that everyone has the right to express their views and put up signs in the United States, regardless of their content.
In the end, it seems that these posters have become a point of contention, with differing views on their purpose and impact. The controversy surrounding them highlights the deep-seated divisions and tensions between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian supporters, as well as the complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
