On New Year’s Day, hundreds of anti-Israel demonstrators gathered in New York City's Times Square to rally for an "intifada revolution." The protest was organized by groups such as the Palestinian Youth Movement, Party for Socialism and Liberation, and the People's Forum. Attendees waved Palestinian flags and held signs that read slogans like "Zionism is cancer" and "End all US aid to Israel." Demonstrators shouted calls for Palestinian resistance, with chants like "Resistance is glorious - we will be victorious," and "Gaza, you make us proud." Some protesters directed hostile remarks at counter-demonstrators, with one speaker urging "Go back to Europe!" during the rally.

The protest occurred just hours after a deadly car attack in New Orleans, where U.S. Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove into a crowded area of the French Quarter, killing at least 15 people and injuring 30 others. Police later revealed that Jabbar, who was reportedly inspired by ISIS, posted videos online expressing a desire to kill before the attack. During the incident, three improvised bombs were discovered near the area, and Jabbar was shot and killed by police after exchanging gunfire. The attack, which took place in a popular tourist area, was a shocking and tragic event, especially as it unfolded just as New Yorkers were gathering for the protest.

U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the attack, labeling it "despicable," and the FBI has been investigating whether there could be a connection between Jabbar's actions and other incidents, including a Tesla truck fire outside a Trump hotel in Las Vegas. The violent timing of the protest and the terrorist attack on the same day raised concerns about tensions in both U.S. domestic and foreign policies. Authorities continue to investigate, while both events have sparked broader debates about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the growing influence of extremist groups in the United States.