Pro-Palestine and Jewish protestors were arrested in NYC on Friday night after hundreds stormed Grand Central to demand a ceasefire – as Israel launched an ‘unprecedented’ bombing campaign on Gaza and stepped up ground operations.
Footage of protestors clashing with police surfaced in the wake of the event organized by members of the Jewish Voice for Peace.
The group describe themselves as being the ‘largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization in the world’ predominantly consisting of people from the Jewish faith.
Protestors at the ‘historic sit-in’ on the main concourse of the iconic Manhattan station could be heard chanting: ‘No more weapons, no more war. Ceasefire is what we’re fighting for.’
Other footage also showed a large crowd attempting to enter the station but being held back by NYPD officers trying to subdue the situation.
Signs were hung around the concourse, with one reading: ‘Palestinians should be free.’
Protestors could be heard chanting: ‘No more weapons, no more war. Ceasefire is what we’re fighting for’
Members of the Jewish Voice for Peace said they are hosting a ‘historic sit-in’ on the main concourse of the iconic station in Manhattan
Others said: ‘Mourn the dead, and fight like hell for the living’ and another called for an immediate ceasefire in the region.
Jewish Voice for Peace issued a statement on their intended protest, saying: ‘In the last two weeks, over 7,000 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis were killed.
‘Every bomb dropped on Gaza threatens the lives of 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza and 200 Israeli hostages. The only way to save lives [is] through an immediate ceasefire.’
Subsequent videos emerged showing officers attempting to disperse the crowds inside the station, as well as some people being escorted out in handcuffs.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority have had to close Grand Central Terminal due to the demonstration.
According to one social media user, police had made an announcement that those who remained sitting risked being arrested.
A video of those who had been arrested has since surfaced on social media, showing a long line of protestors in cuffs and being held by officers as they leave the station.
After the protest started earlier tonight, Jewish Voice for Peace encouraged others to join them.
In a post to social media, the group said: ‘In the midst of a massive bombarding onslaught on Gaza, hundreds of Jews and friends are taking over Grand Central Station in a historic sit-in calling for a ceasefire.
‘Come join now! The location of this demonstration is the main concourse at Grand Central Station.’
Footage has also emerged showing a large crowd attempting to enter the station, but are being held back by NYPD officers
The Metropolitan Transit Authority have had to close Grand Central Terminal due to the demonstration
After the protest started earlier tonight, Jewish Voice for Peace encouraged others to join them
According to one social media user, police had made an announcement that those who remained sitting risked being arrested
Subsequent videos have emerged showing officers attempting to disperse the crowds inside the station, as well as some being arrested
The Big Apple, which has the biggest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel, has been a hotbed for protests since the conflict started earlier this month.
Earlier Thursday, thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched from Wall Street to City Hall to protest against U.S. weapons manufacturers and investment companies and dozens of others have raged across the country and world.
Mayor Eric Adams said on Thursday that 233 people have been arrested at the over 100 protests and rallies held in the city.
New York’s Jewish community is also being being warned to stay away from a rally planned to take place in Brooklyn on Saturday as a matter of safety.
‘Jews should definitely avoid the area,’ COLlive.com reported, citing a security source. ‘There’s no intel at this time in which direction the protest will head. Locals should definitely stay away from Eastern Parkway in that area.’
Jewish Voice for Peace had also taken over a US Congress building last week to demand a ceasefire.
At least a hundred protesters occupied a building of the US Congress urging lawmakers and Joe Biden’s administration to push for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The group Dressed in black T-shirts emblazoned with the words ‘Jews say cease fire now’ and ‘Not in our name’.
‘Jews say ceasefire now’ reads shirts on the backs of the protestors
The activists sat clapping and singing on the floor in the rotunda of the Cannon House Office building and held up large banners that read ‘Ceasefire’ and ‘Let Gaza Live’.
Capitol police said protests are not allowed inside the building and several demonstrators were arrested.
This latest protest inside Grand Central comes as a top political adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned ‘Hamas will feel Israel’s wrath’.
Palestinians have been warned by the IDF to flee to the south of Gaza as missiles bombarded the region, razing buildings to the ground.
The bombing, which observers described as much more ferocious and louder than previous days, coincided with electricity and communications blackouts in much of the besieged enclave.
According to one report the Israelis even unleashed ‘bunker buster’ concussion missiles to try and destroy the extensive Hamas tunnel network under Gaza.
IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari telling reporters at a press conference today: ‘In recent hours we have increased the attacks in Gaza.
‘The air force widely attacks underground targets and terrorist infrastructure, very significantly.
The strikes have almost completely decimated Gaza’s telecommunications infrastructure
‘In continuation of the offensive activity we carried out in the last few days, the ground forces are expanding the ground activity this evening.’
The IDF said it was expanding its bombardment campaign against Gaza, and was ‘working powerfully in all dimensions’ to achieve its military goals.
Hamas returned fire with a ‘salvo’ of rockets, though it not known how many were caught by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system.
The terror group also called on those in the West Bank and ‘1948 territories’ – a term used by Palestinians meaning Israel in reference to when it was founded – to take up arms as Israel’s ground invasion begins.
Hamas reportedly said that it held Israel, the US and Western nations which support Israel ‘fully responsible for the series of heinous massacres’ against the people of Gaza.
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
