Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil calls for God to 'hold Israel accountable' at Yom Kippur event

"It's tough to repent at a time where our tuition fees, our tax dollars, our votes are being used to kill, to maim, to displace Palestinians," he said.

Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil spoke at a Yom Kippur Yizkor event arranged by multiple left-wing Jewish groups in New York City on Monday, condemning Israel's activity in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.

"It's tough to repent at a time where our tuition fees, our tax dollars, our votes are being used to kill, to maim, to displace Palestinians," he said. "To displace Lebanese, to bomb Iranians, and just really to forget that we are all humans."

He added a prayer that God "remember that Israel is committing genocide."

Khalil, who has previously been arrested following anti-Israel protests he conducted at Columbia University, also called for unity against Israel and its warfare, saying the "Zionist project" and "this particular fascist government in this country" were trying to make the people forget "that we are all one. That we are all humans."

Khalil, concluding his speech, called for an end to the bombing of Gaza, an end to "the engineered famine," an end to "this country's money paying for it," and an end to "the lie any of it was inevitable.

"May God, through us all, all of us, hold Israel accountable," he said.

Left-wing Jewish groups atone for 'genocide'

The event was organized by the left-wing group Rabbis for Ceasefire, along with Jewish Voice for Peace, Jews For Racial & Economic Justice, IfNotNow, and the American Council for Judaism.

It centered on the Yizkor prayer, part of the Yom Kippur liturgy which commemorates those who have died.

As Khalil spoke at the event, a banner above him read "Refuse, Remember, Recommit," while a plaque on his podium read, "for the sin of genocide we atone."

Also in attendance at the event were Jewish Democratic Congressional candidate Brad Lander, Palestinian-American Democratic Senate nominee Aber Kawas, and several New York City Council members.