Anti-Israel protesters turned out by the hundreds across New York City during the third anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack Wednesday — with students at NYU and Columbia University calling to “keep the intifada alive” and proclaiming “resistance is justified.”

More than 100 people gathered at Washington Square Park for the latest demonstration of the New York University Students for Justice in Palestine’s “Rage Week” aimed at condemning the Israel-Gaza war.

The demonstrators — wearing keffiyehs and holding banners calling for NYU to “divest” and shutter its Tel Aviv campus — were heard chanting, “Long live the intifada” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a common rally cry implying the erasure of the Jewish state.

Anti-Israel protesters marching outside of City Hall in Manhattan on Oct. 7, 2026. James Keivom for NY PostA woman wearing a “F—k Israel” sign on her forehead at the march on the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 terror attacks in the Jewish State. James Keivom for NY Post

“Glory to the martyrs and victory to the resistance. Intifada intifada!” one member of SJP shouted, calling for the crowd to “keep the intifada alive.”

Andrew Ross, a professor at NYU’s American Studies program and part of Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine, justified Hamas’ bloody invasion on Oct. 7, 2023, as a military tactic whose primary purpose was to acquire hostages to free Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

While Ross called the day “very tragic,” he went on to spread a conspiracy theory that the Israel Defense Forces killed some of its own citizens during the massacre — in which nearly 1,200 people, including more than 800 civilians, were slaughtered, with many victims also suffering torture and rape at the hands of Hamas fighters.

“On Oct. 7, a mass Hannibal Directive was issued, and for the first time, it applied to civilians, Israeli civilians, and as a result, an untold number of them died at the hands of being targeted by IDF forces in vehicles that were being taken back to Gaza,” Ross claimed as he addressed the crowd.

An anti-Israel protester making a triangle with her hand in reference to an antisemitic symbol used to glorify violence against Israelis. Michael Nigro for NY PostA counter-protester getting flipped off by an anti-Israel protester near City Hall. James Keivom for NY PostA woman marching with a sign accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. James Keivom for NY PostA City Hall protester holding a sign calling of Mayor Zohran Mamdani — despite the mayor’s vocal anti-Israel views. Michael Nigro for NY Post

The Hannibal Directive is a controversial procedure used by the IDF to prevent the capture of Israeli soldiers by enemy forces at all costs, but its authors have repeatedly stated that it in no way allows for soldiers or civilians to be killed.

Ross also blamed Israel for the length of the war and accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of rejecting peace deals for the purpose of destroying the Gaza Strip.

NYU senior Ariella Cojab, 21, interrupted Ross to point out the war crimes committed by Hamas that day, which were documented by members of the terror group themselves on the stolen phones of their victims.

NYU Prof. Andrew Ross speaks in front of students at Washington Square Park, blaming Israel for the war in Gaza and accusing the IDF of killing civilians on Oct. 7, 2023. Robert Miller for NY PostStudents at New York University stage a walkout and are joined by Pro-Palestinian activists during the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel. Michael Nigro for NY PostAround 100 people gathered at Washington Square Park to take part in the protest, hosted by the NYU Students for Justice in Palestine. Robert Miller for NY Post

“That, to me, is not resistance. That’s a war crime,” Cojab said. “Rape is not resistance.”

Along with the demonstration at NYU, dozens also gathered uptown at Columbia University with similar anti-Israel chants, including, “From water to water, Palestine will be Arab.”

The students also echoed chants defending Hamas’ actions on Oct. 7, yelling “Resistance is justified when people are occupied!”

The students demanded NYU divest from Israel and shut down its campus in Tel Aviv. Robert Miller for NY PostStudents at New York University accused their school of supporting genocide in Gaza. Michael Nigro for NY PostA demonstrator marched with a sign that reads, “NYU Your Hands Are Stained.” Robert Miller for NY Post

The Ivy League university was notably the site of the months-long encampment protest that took over the Manhattan campus and spread to other colleges across the nation in 2024.

Meanwhile, about 125 protesters also gathered outside City Hall to criticize Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s alleged “betrayal” of Palestinian causes since taking office, with many of the demonstrators wearing keffiyehs and waving Palestinian flags.  

The crowd chanted, “Mayor Mamdani take a side, justice for Palestine,” with one protester holding up a picture of the mayor rolling out the red carpet for Netanyahu in response to the prime ministers visit to New York last month.

Columbia University students walk out of class and join a rally on Wednesday. Jonathan Fernandes/FNTV

Rabbi Yitzchok Deutsch, of the Jews United Again Zionism group, claimed the protest was scheduled for Oct. 7 because the anniversary was allegedly being used by Zionist to justify the ongoing war in Gaza.

“They are using our religion to justify all these crimes on the Palestinian people,” Deutsch said. “It’s the movement of Zionism which caused and still causing all these rivers of bloodshed on both sides, Jews and Palestinians.”

John King, of UAW Labor for Palestine — a nationwide group of rank-and-file United Auto Workers union members advocating for Gaza — was among those calling for Mamdani to ensure New York City divests from Israel.

“Other communities are divesting and that’s what we’re hoping Mamdani will listen to and then act.”

Later in the evening, the City Hall protesters marched through Lower Manhattan and crashed the Israelis for Peace candlelit vigil in Union Square.

Two keffiyeh-clad demonstrators waving what appeared to be Hamas flags were spotted screaming at those gathered for the memorial.

Chants of “Nazi s–m, all of you” and “Can’t reason with Nazis” were heard.

Others protesters continued railing against Mamdani, who arrived at the part at around 7:30 p.m. to attend the vigil.

NYU did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment about Ross’ statements.

— Additional reporting by Steven Vago