GB News presenter Ben Leo was left stunned after encountering an activist proudly flying the flag of Hamas during a pro-Palestine protest in New York City.

The demonstration took place on the two-year anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks in Israel, which claimed the lives of 1,200 people and led to 251 more being kidnapped and taken hostage to Gaza.

After Ben was ushered over by one masked-up protester, the stateside GB News host questioned him over what the flag he was holding aloft was representing.

The demonstrator calmly told Ben it was "the Hamas flag".

Ben Leo was left stunned as a pro-Gaza activist flew a Hamas terror flag in central New York City

After telling Ben that he was are aware that Hamas are proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the US, Ben asked: "Why aren't the police picking you up?

"Because in the UK you would be arrested for that."

The Hamas supporter replied: "Well it is called freedom of speech right? Freedom of expression.

He added: "People can support whoever they want - [it doesn't matter if] some Government proscribes someone as a terrorist."

The protester proceeded to blame Israel for killing 'their own people to blame on Hamas'

Ben hit back at the pro-Palestine rally attendee, asking: "Why have you chosen this day off all days to come out? Because this is on October 7."

The demonstrator responded: "They started the resistance. It is from the resistance from 77 years of occupation, apartheid and oppression."

The GB News presenter then asked him whether he is a supporter of killing civilians, to which he spat: "No, I do not. No, we don't support Israel."

The protester proceeded to claim Israel killed "their own people to blame on Hamas".

Ben asked him why he was covering his face "if you are so proud and decisive against Israel".

The Hamas supporter told him that "the reason why I hide my identity is because these people like to doxx us [expose us online] and ruin our lives".

After the GB News presenter pointed out that none of the pro-Israel supporters on the other side of the protest were hiding their faces, Ben asked the demonstrator whether that suggested he was a "coward".

He responded: "No, they are part of a genocide and this country is funding, helping them."

The protester refused to answer Ben's question as to whether he was "proud of Hamas killing civilians", with his crony quickly snapping back: "Are you proud of working for Israel?"

New York City's pro-Palestine rally on the two-year anniversary of October 7 has been slammed as insensitive and antisemitic by US-based Jewish organisations.

Shocking footage of the demonstrators showed enraged protesters chanting "long live October 7" as they stomped on the Israeli flag.

Mahmoud Khalil, the former Columbia University student who was threatened with deportation after leading protests at the college campus, was a speaker at the rally, and has vowed he "will not be silent".