Former Israeli soldiers posed as pro-Palestinian supporters at various locations in New York City, engaging people under false pretenses before disclosing their actual affiliations. The operation was coordinated by Frontline Advocates, a pro-Israel nonprofit that collaborates with the Israeli government.

One encounter occurred on Aug. 28 in Washington Square Park, where David Spevak, a Jewish anti-Zionist creator, said he was approached by two men who identified themselves as Palestinian students from Gaza. The men were later identified as former Israeli Defense Forces soldiers.

Spevak said the men showed him graphic images and videos of victims from Oct. 7, claiming personal responsibility for atrocities depicted in the materials. One man allegedly stated he had raped and stabbed a woman; the other described killing a child to prevent it from becoming an IDF soldier.

Spevak understood the interaction as an attempted entrapment. He said the men asked if he was "with the resistance" after presenting these confessions. He believed footage of him endorsing "the resistance" could have been used to portray a Jewish anti-Zionist as supporting those crimes.

Frontline Advocates describes itself as an IDF-veteran advocacy organization. It had announced a New York campaign from Aug. 23 to Aug. 30 focused on filming and digitally amplifying confrontations.

Members of Frontline Advocates had previously entered other Palestine-related events undercover. The organization's members say they adopt disguises because people ignore them when they display pro-Israel paraphernalia, making direct engagement difficult.

Spevak alleged that one of the men involved in the Washington Square Park incident had a connection to Mossad, Israel's national intelligence agency. The allegation has not been independently verified.

A Columbia University faculty member, who requested anonymity citing fear of retaliation, reported feeling unsafe after confronting IDF veterans posing as pro-Palestinian protesters. These veterans similarly said they dressed as pro-Palestinian activists to facilitate dialogue.