Jews protest at New York Times office against column alleging systematic sexual abuse of Palestinians

Key Points:

• Approximately 200 mostly Jewish protesters gathered outside The New York Times offices in Manhattan to denounce a controversial column by Nicholas Kristof alleging systemic sexual abuse of Palestinian inmates in Israel, which critics say relies on unreliable sources and includes implausible claims.
• The rally was organized by four activist groups, including Stop Antizionism and End Jew Hatred, reflecting a growing movement in the US Jewish community that views anti-Zionism as a form of hatred against Jews rather than a political stance.
• Protesters accused The New York Times of biased and false reporting on Gaza-related incidents, such as the Al Ahli hospital explosion and a disputed claim about babies starving in Gaza, expressing concern that such coverage fuels antisemitism and violence against Jews.
• Organizers compared the column’s allegations to historical libels against Jews, warning that such rhetoric could incite further violence and drawing parallels to propaganda used in Nazi Germany prior to the Holocaust.
• The New York Times defended the column and dismissed legal threats from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as attempts to undermine independent journalism, while the protest concluded peacefully with the singing of Israel’s national anthem.