The NYPD issued a statement in response to recent escalating events in Israel and Palestine since the Hamas attacks on Saturday, Oct. 7, which prompted a “wartime visit” to the region by U.S. President Joe Biden, as reported by the Associated Press.

 

“We are currently in a heightened threat environment and tensions have been rising since the assault against Israel on Oct. 7,” the NYPD statement read. “The NYPD is doing everything we can do to forestall future violence in our city. However, we know the ongoing events overseas may resonate with individuals domestically and that is hard to anticipate.”

 

The statement concluded, “The NYPD asks all New Yorkers to remain vigilant and reminds everyone if they see something to say something. For these reasons, the NYPD is continuing with our citywide all-out deployment and all in-service training will continue to be postponed until further notice.”

Members of the NYPD’s counter-terrorism squad have been seen patrolling in midtown Manhattan in recent days.

 

Meanwhile, as he wrapped up his visit to the Middle East, the president said on Wednesday, Oct. 18, “I just announced $100 million for humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the West Bank. This money will support over 1 million displaced and conflict-affected Palestinians. And we will have mechanisms in place so this aid reaches those in need – not Hamas or terrorist groups.”

 

He also said on Wednesday, “Earlier, I spoke with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi of Egypt to deepen our coordination on urgently delivering humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza. Together, we’ll work to preserve stability in the region, prevent escalation, and set circumstances for durable peace.”

The president had also said, “The terrorists will not win. Freedom will win. What sets us apart from the terrorists is we believe in the fundamental dignity of every human life. Israeli. Palestinian. Arab. Jew. Muslim. Christian. If we give that up – the terrorists win. And we can never let them win.”

 

According to one EU agency, some 4.5 million Palestinians live in the Occupied Palestinian Territories of the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and Gaza. Amnesty International has said of the Israeli government, “Laws, policies, and institutional practices all work to expel, fragment, and dispossess Palestinians of their land and property, and deprive Palestinians of their human rights.” It concludes the treatment amounts to an institutionalized regime of oppression and domination defined as apartheid under international law.

 

Click here and here to read our previous stories covering reaction from various local clubs and elected officials to the Hamas attacks, some background context on the conflict, as well as our stories on the subsequent rallies held in Fieldston and Pelham Parkway. In the meantime, we have also covered reaction from Palestinians and their supporters to Israel’s response to the attacks. Further stories will follow.

CBS News reported on Oct. 18 that Palestinian officials say Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has killed about 3,000 people and wounded around 12,500 others, a majority of them women and children [since Oct. 7]. Meanwhile, in Israel, officials say Hamas’ terror attack and ongoing rocket attacks have killed some 1,400 people and wounded 3,500 others. The outlet reported that Hamas is said to be holding almost 200 hostages.

 

The Associated Press reported on Oct. 17 that the explosion at the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza left gruesome scenes. “Video that The Associated Press confirmed was from the hospital showed fire engulfing the building and the hospital grounds strewn with torn bodies, many of them young children,” according to the report. “The grass around them was strewn with blankets, school backpacks and other belongings.” According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), “Islamic Jihadists are responsible for the tragedy [on Oct. 17] – a hospital in Gaza was struck by a misfired rocket.”

 

Unicef executive director Catherine Russell issued a statement on Oct. 7 on the violence seen in Israel and Palestine. “I am deeply concerned for the wellbeing of children in Israel and the State of Palestine. With hundreds of civilians reportedly killed or injured, we are closely monitoring the situation for reports of grave rights violations committed against children.”

 

She continued, “Today’s events continue the trend of spikes in violence that have wracked Israel and the State of Palestine, leaving 199 children dead and more than 2,800 injured in the last three years. UNICEF calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities, and for all parties to protect children from harm and afford them the special protection to which they are entitled, in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law.”

Russell concluded, “More than anything, the children of Israel and the State of Palestine need a lasting political solution to the crisis, so that they can grow up in peace and free from the shadow of violence.”

 

For those wishing to donate to help humanitarian efforts in the region, Unicef is coordinating aid for those affected by the conflict.

 

For more coverage on this topic, click here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, as well as a recent op-ed.