[61772] The Nakba Day storm in the US: Rising tensions and clashes over historical memory

Tensions surrounding the May 16th events

Thursday, May 16, 2026, was marked by intense clashes on social media regarding the marking of 'Nakba Day'. Users identified with pro-Israel positions, including VickieforNYC and elikowaz, harshly criticized the adoption of the Palestinian narrative by political figures in New York. According to VickieforNYC, this is "false propaganda" attempting to equate the events with the Holocaust, while elikowaz emphasized the story of some 850,000 Jews who were expelled from Arab countries during that same period.

At the same time, the tension spilled over into the legal and media spheres. GSpier announced that he is considering taking legal action against the 'New York Times' and journalist Nicholas Kristof, claiming they are spreading a "blood libel" against IDF soldiers. Simultaneously, The Jerusalem Post published an opinion piece stating that New York has become a place where Jews feel threatened and humiliated.

On the ground, notable incidents of harassment were recorded. CaliZionist documented in a video a man who harassed Jews at Washington Square Park in Manhattan, an event that led to his arrest by the police. User responses reflected deep polarization, with calls against the political marking of this day on one side, and on the other, users identified with supporting the Palestinian narrative defending the right to mark Nakba Day as part of the history of the Palestinian people.