Protesters Demand Nicholas Kristof Retraction Outside Times Building
Protesters gathered Thursday outside building in New York City and demanded that Nicholas Kristof retract an opinion piece about alleged sexual abuse of Palestinian detainees. The group also called for his firing, two days after the column was published.
Kristof’s piece alleged serial sexual abuse by Israelis against Palestinian detainees and quoted testimony from men and women who described abuse by prison guards, soldiers, settlers and interrogators. The article said Palestinians had their genitals yanked or were beaten on the testicles, that some men had to have their testicles amputated by doctors, and that metal batons were used to rape men.
Ramon Maislen at Times Building
Ramon Maislen said the protest was planned over WhatsApp and came together in 48 hours. “The group came together and in 48 hours we are making this happen,” he said.
Maislen said, “I think it's really important because we've got to get the word out that when you create libel against people, it ends up having violence against them, and we're trying to avoid that.”
The protesters stood inside NYPD barricades and held signs reading “Shame on for publishing anti-Zionist libels” and “: All the blood libel that's fit to print.” Many carried Israeli and American flags, and some carried flags that combined both.
Kristof Article Backlash
The protest followed backlash from readers and the Israeli government, which has threatened a lawsuit against. Some commentators also said several people Kristof interviewed had ties to Hamas or anti-Israel activism.
Kristof said a Gaza journalist claimed he was mounted by a dog, and he added that other Palestinian prisoners and human rights monitors had cited reports of police dogs being coached to rape prisoners. The protesters also objected to the timing of the piece, saying it could upstage a report on sexual abuse experienced by Oct. 7.
The protest sharpened a dispute that moved from publication to public demonstration in two days, with the column now drawing pressure from protesters, readers and the Israeli government alike.
