Pro-Palestine protesters mount Wall Street's famous Charging Bull and challenge NYPD officers to punch them as they crash Kathy Hochul event

Hundreds of pro-Palestine protestors flooded the streets of Lower Manhattan, clashing with police as some mounted on top of Wall Street's famous Charging Bull statue, defacing it with 'death to Israel.'

On Thursday evening, pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in Union Square before heading to the financial district to condemn US military aid to Israel. The 'Emergency Action For Gaza' rally targeted Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York as she delivered remarks at a Wall Street restaurant.

Video footage captured the chaotic scene, as demonstrators were seen mounting on top of the Charging Bull statue and defacing it with the message 'Death to Israel,' using a black marker to etch the graffiti behind the bull's ear.

Photos shared on social media revealed the graffiti 'Free Palestine' scrawled across its face. 

Amidst the chaos, protestors were sene brazenly challenging police officers, with a woman in a hijab repeatedly urging police officers to 'hit me.'

As the protest moved towards City Hall, eight demonstrators were issued summonses for disorderly conduct. At least one is facing charges of resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration. 

Video footage captured the chaotic scene, as demonstrators were seen mounting on top of the Charging Bull statue and defacing it with the message 'Death to Israel,' using a black marker to etch the graffiti behind the bull's ear 

Photos shared on social media revealed the graffiti 'Free Palestine' scrawled across its face

As the protest moved towards City Hall, eight demonstrators were issued summonses for disorderly conduct. One is facing charges of resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration

Amidst the chaos, protestors were sene brazenly challenging police officers, with a woman in a hijab repeatedly urging police officers to 'hit me'

They marched towards Cipriani Wall Street, where Governor Hochul was expected. At least one demonstrator was arrested near Cipriani.

Some protesters, ignoring police orders to clear the streets and walk on the sidewalks, fell to the ground and were restrained by officers before being taken away in police vans.

Nerdeen Kiswani, an organizer with Within Our Lifetime, addressed the crowd outside Cipriani.

Kiswani criticized Governor Hochul for her previous remarks expressing support for actions against Gaza, as reported by the New York Times.

'Children are beginning to die — they have been dying from the bombs and bullets dropped on them by Israel — but now they are dying of starvation,' Kiswani said.

At least one is facing charges of resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration

On Thursday evening, pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in Union Square before heading to the financial district to condemn US military aid to Israel

Protesters also honored the recent self-immolation of Aaron Bushnell, who burned himself alive to protest Israel, with some holding signs 'RIP Aaron Bushnell'

Demonstrators flooded a subway platform to ride to Wall Street area where New York Governor Kathy Hochul spoke in a restaurant

Police officers detain some protestors during the protest of Pro-Palestinian demonstrators who condemned Israel

The 'Emergency Action For Gaza ' rally targeted Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York as she delivered remarks at a Wall Street restaurant

Some protesters, ignoring police orders to clear the streets and walk on the sidewalks, fell to the ground and were restrained by officers before being taken away in police vans

Earlier at Union Square, demonstrators condemned Israeli aggression and highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Gaza

Protesters chanted slogans condemning Hochul and President Biden. 'Kathy Hochul, you can't hide, you support genocide,' they shouted

Palestinian demonstrators condemned Israeli attacks in Gaza and directed anger at US President Joe Biden, chanting, 'Genocide Joe has got to go'

Rally organizers symbolized the food scarcity in Gaza by throwing flour on the ground

Protesters chanted slogans condemning Hochul and President Biden. 'Kathy Hochul, you can't hide, you support genocide,' they shouted.

Earlier at Union Square, demonstrators condemned Israeli aggression and highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Demonstrators wearing kiffeyas directed anger at President Biden, chanting, 'Genocide Joe has got to go.'

Rally organizers symbolized the food scarcity in Gaza by throwing flour on the ground.

Protesters also honored the recent self-immolation of Aaron Bushnell, who burned himself alive to protest Israel, with some holding signs 'RIP Aaron Bushnell.'

'Some may see his act of self-immolation as an extreme political act,' Kiswani said. 'But he said himself it's not extreme at all compared to what the people of Gaza have had to endure.'

They marched towards Cipriani Wall Street, where Governor Hochul was expected. At least one demonstrator was arrested near Cipriani

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators condemned Israeli attacks in Gaza and directed anger at US President Joe Biden, chanting, 'Genocide Joe has got to go'

Members of the New York City Police Department arrest pro-Palestine demonstrators during a march near City Hall

The protest came after Hamas blamed Israel when more than 100 Palestinian were reportedly killed and at least 700 wounded awaiting aid trucks in Gaza. 

Israel said many of the dead were trampled in a chaotic crush for the food aid in Gaza City and that its troops fired only when they felt endangered by the crowd.

Hamas authorities in Gaza say 112 Palestinians were killed Thursday after Israeli troops opened fire during an aid delivery.

An Israeli source acknowledged the military opened fire on the crowd, adding that the soldiers believed the civilians 'posed a threat'. The. IDF admitted to causing no more than 10 casualties. 

Now, in the wake of the violence, the EU and several countries including Germany and France have come together to put pressure on Israel to look in to the bloody incident.

The EU's two top chiefs said Friday they were 'shocked' and 'deeply disturbed' by the deaths of more than 100 Palestinians after Israeli troops opened fire during an aid delivery, and demanded an investigation.

Shortly after Michel and von der Leyen expressed their indignation, the European Commission announced it was strengthening aid funding for Palestinians.

The protest came after Hamas blamed Israel when more than 100 Palestinian were reportedly killed and at least 700 wounded awaiting aid trucks in Gaza

Aerial photos released by the IDF purport to show the scene as Palestinians attempted to obtain food from aid trucks in Gaza 

Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said the EU 'will proceed to paying 50 million euros to UNRWA and increase emergency support to the Palestinians by 68 million euros in 2024'.

UNRWA is the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. Its funding from international partners came under threat after Israel accused some of its staff of participating in Hamas's October 7 attack on Israeli communities near Gaza.

The EU had said it was reviewing but not suspending its funding to UNRWA in light of the Israeli allegations.