Ben Leo encounters activist demanding trans women lead Gaza government during October 7 anniversary demonstration in Times Square
GB News presenter Ben Leo was left visibly stunned after encountering a pro-Palestine protester at a New York City rally who claimed the Prophet Muhammad was a “proud trans woman” whilst demanding transgender representation in Gaza’s government. The bizarre interaction took place during coverage of demonstrations marking the second anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks, which killed more than 1,200 people and resulted in 251 others being kidnapped and taken hostage.
The masked activist carried a sign reading: “Muhammad was a proud trans woman.” When challenged by Leo, the protester clarified his message, stating the Prophet was “a beautiful trans lesbian” according to his interpretation of the Quran.
The demonstrator declared he would not stop fighting “until 50 per cent of Gaza’s government is trans women.” His comments sparked immediate criticism online and highlighted a striking disconnect between Western progressive activism and the harsh realities facing LGBT individuals in Gaza under Hamas rule.
Leo, reporting live from Times Square, pressed the protester on the potential consequences of his activism in Gaza itself. What do you think would happen to you if you went into Gaza holding that?” the GB News host asked.
The activist appeared uncertain, responding only that he did not know but urged everyone to “keep fighting.” Leo interjected with a stark warning: “I can tell you. You’ll be thrown off a building, probably.”
Undeterred, the protester repeated his demand that trans women should be placed “in charge of Gaza.” A visibly frustrated Leo walked away, sarcastically thanking the activist for his “bizarre explanation.”
Speaking to camera afterwards, Leo told viewers: “He’s from the pro-Palestine lot so it just goes to show the level of incompetence. As I said to that guy, if he went into Gaza holding that sign, he’d be thrown off a building quite imminently.”
The reality of LGBT rights in Gaza starkly contradicts the protester’s calls for transgender representation in government. Under Hamas rule, which has controlled the territory since 2007, homosexuality carries severe penalties under interpretations of Sharia law.
Same-sex sexual activity in Gaza remains criminalised under the British Mandate Criminal Code of 1936, with Section 152 stipulating penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment for homosexual acts. Human rights organisations have documented numerous cases of Hamas persecuting, torturing and even executing individuals suspected of being gay or lesbian.
The US State Department has confirmed that both Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank actively persecute LGBT individuals. Reports from human rights groups indicate Hamas uses public executions of homosexuals as a method of instilling fear and demonstrating strict adherence to their interpretation of Islamic law.
According to Human Rights Watch, LGBT Palestinians in Gaza face constant peril, with many risking their lives annually to escape to Israel, where legal protections and social acceptance exist. The contrast between the two neighbouring regions is stark, with Israel offering refuge and safety to LGBT Palestinians fleeing persecution.
The protester’s comments about the Prophet Muhammad also sparked outrage online, with social media users widely mocking the historical revisionism and questioning whether the statement constituted performance art or genuine belief.
The October 7 anniversary protests in New York drew widespread condemnation from Jewish organisations, who described the demonstrations as insensitive and antisemitic. Shocking footage showed enraged protesters chanting “long live October 7” whilst stomping on Israeli flags.
Leo encountered multiple controversial protesters throughout his coverage. One masked activist proudly displayed a Hamas flag, acknowledging the group is a proscribed terrorist organisation in both the UK and US but defending his actions as “freedom of speech.”
When challenged about supporting terrorists responsible for killing 1,200 people two years earlier, the Hamas supporter accused Israel of staging the massacre, claiming: “Israel killed their own people to blame Hamas.”
Another protester admitted to Leo that attending the demonstration on October 7 was “a bit disrespectful” but defended his presence, saying he only joined because of his girlfriend and that “sometimes you have to be disrespectful in life.”
A third activist refused to condemn Hamas when shown videos of civilians being murdered and mutilated during the 2023 terror attack, instead arguing that Palestinians were “being slaughtered too and at the same or even higher rate than Israelis.”
On the opposing side of the protest, one Jewish woman told GB News she was “shaking with rage” after seeing demonstrators mark the anniversary by taking to
