Islamists take over Niagara Falls, crying "Free Palestine" | WATCH

A group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators disrupted a popular tourist spot at Niagara Falls on Saturday, setting off smoke bombs along a roadside overlook and chanting calls for a "global intifada," according to eyewitness accounts and viral social media posts. The incident, captured in videos circulating online, has drawn sharp criticism from pro-Israel advocates who described it as an Islamist takeover, though local authorities have characterized it as a contained protest with no arrests or injuries reported.

The event unfolded along the U.S. side of the falls, where protesters released colored smoke amid crowds of visitors. Footage shared on X shows plumes of red and green smoke billowing across the scenic viewpoint, with shouts echoing demands for Palestinian solidarity and references to "intifada," a term historically tied to uprisings against Israeli occupation but increasingly criticized as a call for violence in global contexts. One post from X user Eyal Yakoby framed the scene dramatically: "BREAKING: Islamists have completely taken over Niagra falls, setting off smoke bombs and calling for a global intifada." A similar alert appeared on Facebook, amplifying the claim to wider audiences.

The protest aligns with broader waves of pro-Palestinian activism amid the ongoing Gaza war, where chants like "globalize the intifada" have become rallying cries at demonstrations worldwide. Such slogans, often heard at U.S. campuses and urban rallies, evoke the First and Second Intifadas (1987-1993 and 2000-2005), periods of Palestinian "resistance" (read: terror) marked by protests, stone-throwing, and bombings that resulted in thousands of deaths on both sides. Critics, including the American Jewish Committee, have condemned the phrase as incitement to "global violence," linking it to attacks on Jewish communities and institutions.

Local police in Niagara Falls confirmed responding to reports of smoke devices but stated the gathering dispersed without incident, emphasizing it did not constitute a "takeover" of the site. No official statement from organizers has emerged, but the action mirrors similar disruptions at landmarks, aimed at drawing attention to the Gaza crisis amid Israel's military operations.