Palestinian Activist Accuses Israel of Genocide at Yom Kippur Event

Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil accused Israel of committing "genocide" during a Yizkor (memorial prayer) ceremony held in New York on Yom Kippur. The event, organized by several left-wing Jewish organizations including Rabbis for Ceasefire and Jewish Voice for Peace, focused on remembering the deceased. Khalil condemned Israeli operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, suggesting that American citizens indirectly contribute through taxes and votes that fund military actions.

"It is difficult to repent while our tuition fees, our taxes, and our votes are used to kill, mutilate, and displace Palestinians, to displace Lebanese, and to bomb Iranians," Khalil stated. He invoked God to "remember that Israel is committing genocide" and accused the "Zionist project" and the U.S. government of trying to obscure shared humanity.

Khalil called for an end to the bombing in Gaza, what he described as an "organized famine," and U.S. funding for Israel. The ceremony featured a banner reading "Refuse, Remember, Recommit" and a sign stating, "For the sin of genocide, we atone." Several local political figures, including Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander and Palestinian-American Senate candidate Aber Kawas, were in attendance.

Khalil had previously been arrested following pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University. The event was also supported by Jewish organizations such as Jews For Racial & Economic Justice, IfNotNow, and the American Council for Judaism.