Egypt UN Mission Staff Clashes with Anti-Israel Protesters in NYC

A tense confrontation unfolded outside Egypt’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Manhattan when anti-Israel protesters, led by the group Within Our Lifetime, were allegedly assaulted by mission staff.

The clash occurred during a demonstration organized by Within Our Lifetime outside the Egyptian Mission at 304 E 44th Street. The group, led by Palestinian-American activist Nerdeen Kiswani, was protesting Egypt’s blockade of Gaza’s Rafah crossing and its perceived complicity in the Israel-Gaza war. According to Within Our Lifetime, mission staff violently dragged two protesters, one reportedly a minor, into the building, where they were choked and beaten with a bike chain before being handed over to the NYPD. Video footage circulating on X and Reddit shows staff pulling the activists inside while appearing to strike them, followed by NYPD officers arriving to escort the protesters out, who appeared unscathed in later footage.

The group claims the assault reflects directives from Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, citing a leaked phone call where he allegedly instructed embassies to act harshly against activists. Kiswani called the incident “an extension of Egyptian repression onto U.S. soil,” vowing to continue protests, with another rally yesterday. The NYPD has not released an official statement on arrests or charges, but X posts confirm the two protesters were detained, with jail support underway.

The protesters accuse Egypt of enabling Israel’s actions in Gaza by maintaining the Rafah crossing closure, which has restricted aid and movement for Palestinians. Within Our Lifetime’s rhetoric, including claims of Egypt’s “complicity in the US-Israeli genocide,” aligns with their regular demonstrations targeting diplomatic missions of Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Gulf states. Kiswani, criticized by the Anti-Defamation League for antisemitic rhetoric and supporting violence against Israel, framed the assault as proof of Egypt’s alignment with Israel’s policies.

This incident follows a pattern of heightened tensions in New York over the Israel-Gaza conflict. Since October 7, 2023, the city has seen approximately 2,400 protests, with 29,500 participants since January 1, 2025, according to NYPD data. Recent clashes, such as the April 24, 2025, attack by a pro-Israel mob on women in Brooklyn during a visit by Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, highlight the city’s polarized atmosphere. The Egyptian Mission incident adds a new layer, raising concerns about diplomatic staff engaging in violence against U.S. citizens.

The episode has sparked varied reactions. Online, some X users expressed shock at diplomatic staff attacking protesters, with one Reddit commenter quipping, “Welcome to the Middle East.” Others contextualized Egypt’s tense history with Palestinian activism, though they condemned the violence. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and activists like Malik Hassan of the Muslim American Society, who has a record of anti-Israel activism, demanded accountability, calling the assault a violation of rights.

The NYPD, already stretched by 400 protests in four months, faces pressure to clarify its role in the incident. As the UN General Assembly approaches in September, New York braces for more demonstrations.

Sources: NYT, Times of Israel, Arutz Sheva