(NewsNation) — Face masks may soon be banned on New York City subways as the result of recent pro-Palestinian protests.

The idea comes from concerns about safety and well-being after a rash of what some consider antisemitic activity in the city.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says she’s considering a partial mask ban for the city’s subway system after masked protesters boarded and began yelling and chanting. Some riders have said they were scared while in the subway cars with the protesters in between stops.  Hochul told reporters it’s a problem that needs to be dealt with.

“We will not tolerate individuals using masks to evade responsibility for criminal or threatening behavior,” Hochul said. “My team is working on a solution, but on a subway, people should not be able to hide behind a mask to commit crimes.”

Anti-Jewish hate crimes had been on the rise even before this week, jumping 150% in May from the same month last year, according to NYPD stats, which show anti-Jewish offenses led to the overall rise in hate crimes in the city.

Reported discrimination and attacks in the United States against Muslims and Palestinians also reached a record high last year, fueled by Islamophobia and bias amid Israel-Gaza fighting, Reuters reported.

Hochul also told reporters the exact details of the proposed policy are still being ironed out but would contain “common-sense exemptions” for health, cultural or religious reasons.

It could be a hard policy if passed because many people in New York are still routinely wearing masks due to COVID-19.

Hochul says that with so many people wearing masks committing crimes, it’s not only a challenge for law enforcement but also, at times, impossible to track them down.