Jewish-Led Protest at Trump Hotel Demands Gaza Aid, Ends in Mass Arrests
More than 40 people were arrested outside the Trump International Hotel in New York City on Monday evening during a large-scale protest organized by Jewish-American anti-occupation group IfNotNow. The demonstration, which took place just after the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’Av, drew hundreds demanding immediate U.S. pressure on Israel to allow greater humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The event, titled “Trump: Jews Say No More”, reflects a growing fissure within the American Jewish community and a broader national debate on U.S. involvement in Israel’s military campaign.
The Protest That Shook Columbus Circle
A Unified Jewish Voice: “Not In Our Name”
The protest began at Columbus Circle and moved toward the Trump International Hotel. Demonstrators held signs reading “Stop ethnic cleansing”, “Never again is now”, “Stop starving Gaza”, and “Not in our name”. These slogans encapsulated the message: many Jewish Americans believe Israel’s policies in Gaza are not representative of their faith or values.
Morriah Kaplan, interim executive director of IfNotNow, issued one of the most forceful statements of the night:
“The Israeli government’s blockade of Gaza is a policy of ethnic cleansing by way of forced mass starvation… and those who are deploying Jewish symbols to justify it are desecrating our heritage.”
Her speech underscored the central tension behind the protest — a demand for a moral reckoning within the Jewish community and the Biden and Trump administrations.
“We Demand Action”: A Call to Washington
Speakers Push for Halt to U.S. Military Aid to Israel
Speakers at the protest included high-profile Jewish leaders and progressive politicians:
Ruth Messinger, former Manhattan borough president
Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of the Jewish human rights group T’ruah
Brad Lander, New York City Comptroller
Lander pointed out the symbolic timing:
“Yesterday was Tisha B’Av, a day when Jews mourn the destruction of the people of Israel… What we’re witnessing now is destruction caused by the State of Israel.”
Lander, like many others, urged the U.S. government to stop sending “offensive weapons and bombs” to Israel, emphasizing that American taxpayers should not fund what they view as a humanitarian crisis.
A Former U.S. Official Speaks Out
“Our Role as Americans is Clear”
One of the protest’s more poignant moments came from Lily Greenberg Call, a former special assistant at the U.S. Department of the Interior who resigned in May 2024 in protest of Biden’s Gaza policies.
“I was the first, and still the only Jewish official to publicly resign… Our tax dollars are funding this. We have an obligation as American Jews to stand up against what’s happening in our name.”
Greenberg Call highlighted a shift in public sentiment, noting that many of the attendees were not regular activists but first-time demonstrators moved by the worsening situation in Gaza.
Arrests and Aftermath
NYPD Responds with Detentions as Protesters Block Street
At approximately 8:15 p.m., NYPD officers began arresting demonstrators for blocking traffic in front of the Trump Hotel. At least 40 protesters were loaded into police vans. The crowd began dispersing shortly after.
A statement released by IfNotNow after the arrests framed the action as part of a broader awakening:
“This mobilization marks the broadest tent coalition in the Jewish community against the atrocities in Gaza in the last two years… representing the majority of U.S. Jews who are outraged.”
The group sees this protest not as an isolated incident, but the beginning of a sustained campaign to redefine Jewish-American political engagement around Israel.
A Global Crisis Meets Domestic Dissent
Jewish Solidarity in an Era of Political Division
The protest didn’t just oppose Israeli policy — it challenged both the Biden and Trump administrations. While Biden has faced resignations over his administration’s pro-Israel stance, Trump, under whom the Gaza blockade and aid restrictions have intensified, was the direct target of Monday night’s demonstration.
The location — Trump International Hotel — was symbolic. Protesters accused the Trump administration of doubling down on support for Israel’s military campaign despite widespread reports of starvation, infrastructure collapse, and civilian deaths in Gaza.
Notable Voices Join the Movement
From Gaza to New York: A Global Stage
Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza, known for his harrowing coverage inside Gaza, made a brief appearance at the protest. Though his remarks were limited, his presence served as a visual link between the suffering on the ground and the international movement to end it.
What Comes Next?
The Rise of Faith-Based Protest Politics
Monday’s protest may mark a turning point in American Jewish activism around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The message was loud and clear: a growing number of Jewish Americans are unwilling to remain silent or complicit.
Organizers suggest that more protests are in the works — not only in New York but across major U.S. cities — especially as political rhetoric around Gaza intensifies in the lead-up to the 2026 midterms.
IfNotNow and its coalition partners are betting that a groundswell of public Jewish dissent could change the political calculus in Washington.
The arrests outside the Trump International Hotel weren’t just about civil disobedience. They represented a moral alarm bell from within the Jewish community, reverberating across the political spectrum. Whether Washington listens — or continues to fund a war many now see as indefensible — remains to be seen.
