Israeli comedian and IDF reservist Guy Hochman was forced to cancel a scheduled performance Tuesday night in New York after a large, organized pro-Hamas protest blocked the entrance to the Broadway Comedy Club.
JFeed Israeli stand-up comedian Guy Hochman’s performance at the Broadway Comedy Club was abruptly canceled yesterday, following a blockade by pro-Palestinian protesters who accused him of promoting war crimes. The incident, part of Guy Hochman‘s North American tour, highlights ongoing tensions surrounding Israeli artists amid the Israel-Hamas war.
Protesters, organized by groups including the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) and mobilized through social media, gathered outside the venue at 318 W 53rd St. in Manhattan. Demonstrators blocked the entrance, displayed signs branding Hochman a “war criminal” and “genocidaire,” and chanted slogans calling for a boycott. Online campaigns urged supporters to “blow up” the show, interpreted as a call to disrupt it, while promotional posters were defaced with red paint and messages like “I am coming to conquer Gaza.”
New York Police Department (NYPD) officers on the scene evaluated the situation and determined there was a significant risk to public safety due to the blockade and potential for unrest. As a result, the event was immediately canceled, and ticket holders received refunds. No arrests were made during the protest.
Hochman, who tried to proceed with the show, expressed his frustration on Instagram: “Sons of bitches are blocking the entrance to the club, and the police decided not to approve the show.”
A popular comedian in Israel and a former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier, Hochman has drawn controversy for videos he filmed while serving in the IDF’s broadcast unit in Gaza. These clips include satirical or provocative remarks about “conquering” the region and uplifting troop morale.
🚨 Mamdani’s NY: The planned show of Israeli stand-up comedian Guy Hochman, who also served as an IDF soldier in Gaza, was canceled at the last moment, following an extensive and organized pro-Palestinian protest that blocked the entrance to the Broadway Comedy Club. Posters with… pic.twitter.com/ve7PYDKXF9
— Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) January 21, 2026
World Israel News On Tuesday, the group also urged U.S. authorities to investigate Hochman ahead of his New York appearance, claiming the scheduled performance “poses an imminent risk of further criminal conduct,” and citing U.S. federal statutes including the War Crimes Act and genocide statute.
After the cancellation, protest organizers celebrated online. “The wanted war criminal Guy Hochman was forced to cancel his show in New York because of protesters,” the Palestinian Youth Movement wrote, describing the disruption as a “victory.”
Despite the disruption, Hochman said his supporters still showed up and that he refused to back down. In a Facebook post Wednesday morning, he wrote: “Last night, we arrived in ‘Mamdani City,’ and a pro-Hamas protest blocked the entrance to the show. So my amazing audience got an outdoor special in minus 10 degrees. The production team and I are working on another show that could take place as soon as tomorrow. Continuing the journey — you, me, and the flag of all of us. They won’t wipe the smile off our faces. Am Yisrael Chai Tthe people of Israel live).”
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American police need to be stopped before they become like UK police.
Where they think their job is to show up and arrest the victim
@Rob:
Rats, you beat me to it. I was going to make a similar comment.
This has already happened to David Wood in Dearbornistan, Michigan. He and another guy setup a booth at an Arabic Festival in Dearbornistan to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and when moslames began attacking them THEY were arrested.
I just found Guy Hochman’s Youtube account so I will watch his videos so he can get money from the advertising, so that can serve as “compensation” for him.
I’ll do that too.
flash back to 69 and I know how it felt to be in this Patriots boots … we got’a clean up this place !
Why does this country allow Muslims to remain in our country? It is a known fact that Sharia law is anti-american and that they intend to take away our rights and and destroy our country. How can that be legal?
It isn’t legal, but in our country today, politics and fear far outweigh the rule of law. This is what the Left wants, and they are pushing our country toward civil war, which is clearly also what they want.