Pro-Palestinian protesters faced criticism from both the White House and Governor Josh Shapiro after targeting an Israeli-owned restaurant in Philadelphia. The demonstration took place on Sunday and was part of a larger march against the bombardment of Gaza. Protesters gathered outside Goldie Falafel, owned by renowned Israeli-American chef Michael Solomonov, and chanted slogans accusing the restaurant of supporting genocide. Governor Shapiro condemned the protest as antisemitic, stating that targeting a restaurant solely because its owner is Jewish and Israeli is a clear example of antisemitism. Shapiro also expressed his support for Solomonov and his staff, assuring them that he would stand by them.

The incident, captured in a video that circulated online, showed demonstrators marching down the street holding Palestinian flags while chanting the slogan directed at Goldie. The protest began at Rittenhouse Square and continued for several blocks, joining an ongoing candlelight vigil and protest happening in front of a controversial housing project in University City and West Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Free Palestine Coalition had previously called for supporters to gather in a demonstration, urging them to "flood the streets."

Goldie Falafel is part of the CookNSolo Restaurants group, which includes multiple Israeli-style restaurants in Philadelphia and one in Brooklyn, New York. Solomonov, who co-owns the group, is a highly acclaimed chef who has won several James Beard Awards and published a cookbook called "Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking." The group has publicly donated to an Israeli non-profit assisting those affected by the October 7 Hamas attacks.

Both the White House and Governor Shapiro condemned the protesters' actions as antisemitic. Shapiro took to social media, initially addressing the protest on X (formerly known as Twitter) and later speaking at a news conference in suburban Philadelphia. He emphasized the importance of engaging in respectful and peaceful dialogue about the situation in the Middle East but drew a clear line when it came to blatant antisemitism. White House spokesperson Andrew Bates echoed Shapiro's sentiments, calling the targeting of restaurants that serve Israeli food over disagreements with Israeli policy "completely unjustifiable" and emphasizing President Biden's commitment to fighting against antisemitism.

The Philadelphia Police Department has not provided additional information about the protest, and representatives from the restaurant declined to comment on the incident. Requests for comment were also left with the Philadelphia Palestine Coalition.

This incident comes amidst ongoing protests across the United States and abroad against the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Students have faced disciplinary action for demonstrations on college campuses and high school walkouts, and some protesters have targeted specific companies, particularly media outlets, accusing them of bias. The recent Hamas attack on Israel triggered the deadliest violence between Israelis and Palestinians in decades, resulting in thousands of deaths and the displacement of a significant portion of Gaza's population. The situation has sparked intense debates and passionate demonstrations on all sides.