Police were forced to rescue the mother of an Israeli hostage held by Hamas and guests at a Donna Karan fundraiser after it was targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters.

New York police shepherded attendees into their vans and then drove them away after protesters surrounded the venue, blocking exits on Tuesday night. They banged on doors and harassed anyone going in or out.

They did this as Ayelet Levy Shachar, the mother of 19-year-old Naama Levy, addressed the fundraiser. Naama was seen in a notorious video shot in Gaza being dragged by a gunman by her hair from a Jeep with a bloodstained tracksuit.

Arielle Yael, who was at the event, posted on X: “From the moment we arrived at the venue until the moment we left, anti-Israel protesters - more accurately described as Hamas cheerleaders - amassed at every entrance and exit of the venue.

“The image of Jewish women, girls & men being shepherded into white vans & driven down streets lined with men & women in face masks - shouting hateful words, pounding their fist in the air, sneering, & photographing- is all too reminiscent of the images we’ve all seen on our

“There is nothing normal about Jewish people needing police escorts to protect them from “peaceful protesters.”

“Those protesters targeted that space, not to express their beliefs - but to intimidate, interrupt and shut down ours. They stood outside in the cold for 3+ hours, not to represent the clarity of their convictions, but to attempt to diminish our courage in expressing our own.

“But we won’t cave in. We will double down. And our love will drown out their hate.”

It came on the same night that Alec Baldwin had to be protected from pro-Palestinian protesters when one suggested he wouldn’t critcise Israel because he “worked in Hollywood”.

Baldwin was accosted by the mob that also took over Penn Station as he was walking to volunteer his time teaching an acting class in Manhattan.

One protestor said to him “you work in Hollywood. So do you condemn Israel?” Baldwin hit back, saying “you’ve already got your mind made up” and telling him “you ask stupid questions”.

Police then led Baldwin away.

The protesters were initially stopped from entering Penn Station by police who put up barricades at the entrance.

But an organiser told protesters to “find a way in” and to “outrun these piggies” before hordes of demonstrators rushed the train hall.

They chanted “cease-fire now” while running through the hall.