The easiest thing in the world for New York politicians–scratch that, any politician–is voicing support for Israel. It helps their fundraising and vote totals, and anything short of cheering on Israel’s military is a wish for negative media coverage.

But New Yorkers who are fed up with Israel’s assaults on Gaza, and the political class’ full-throated support for operations that kill scores of Palestinian civilians, are trying their damnedest to make Israel/Palestine contested ground. On Monday, dozens of protesters gathered outside the gates of City Hall to voice their anger at New York politicians’ show of support for Israel’s “Operation Protective Edge,” which has killed over 200 people, the vast majority of them civilians.