Masked protester hoists ‘Kill Hostages Now’ sign during Israel Day parade in NYC

The Israel Day parade in New York City turned heated Sunday as pro-Israel demonstrators squared off with counterprotesters, including one who held up a sign that read, "Kill Hostages Now."

The counterprotester wore a black mask and a Palestinian flag as he held up the incendiary sign. Police officers nudged him back onto his side of the protest so as not to escalate an already tense situation.

Marchers in the pro-Israel camp were chanting for the release of hostages taken in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in southern Israel that triggered the war in Gaza. Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and abducted about 250. About 100 hostages remain in Gaza, along with the bodies of around 30 more.

People chanted "Bring them home now!" and waved Israeli flags as they marched up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan for what this year was called "Israel Day on Fifth."