Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters closed Manhattan Bridge during one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year to demand a ‘permanent ceasefire’ in Gaza.
The protest in New York was led by Jewish Voice for Peace, an activist group that describes itself as the “world’s largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization,” made up mostly of people of the faith.
It came as a fragile four-day pause in Israeli airstrikes, which have killed an estimated 11,000 people so far, is set to end on Monday – and as the first US citizen was freed in a prisoner swap.
Four-year-old Israeli-American dual national Abigail Mor Edan was released by the militant group – after her parents Roy Edan, 43, and Smadar Edan, 40, were among 1,200 people slaughtered in the October 7 attack.
She was one of 17 hostages freed on Sunday, including 14 Israelis, in the third exchange under a ceasefire that the US hoped would be extended. Israel released 39 prisoners in return.
Pro-Palestinian protesters closed the Manhattan Bridge during one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year to demand a ‘permanent ceasefire’ in Gaza
Sunday’s mass demonstration in the Big Apple came amid a fragile four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, during which dozens more hostages were exchanged.
More than 1,000 people have flooded the streets in New York City to demand a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as the current pause is set to end on Monday.
The protest in New York took place on one of the busiest travel days of the year, between Thanksgiving and the Christmas period. City officials warned motorists to avoid the area.
Protesters began blocking the road near Canal Street in Lower Manhattan around 2 p.m. Many wore shirts with the words “ceasefire now,” while some placed a banner on the sidewalk reading “the whole world is watching” and “let Gaza live.”
The organizers chanted through megaphones the slogans “Palestinians have the right to live in freedom” and “a pause is not enough, let Gaza live.”
Many also wore keffiyehs – a monochrome patterned scarf that is a patriotic symbol of Palestinian identity – and waved Palestinian flags.
The same group has recently led several other massive pro-Palestinian protests in the Big Apple, including the storming of Grand Central Station in late October and a Statue of Liberty rally in early November.
Palestinian health officials in Gaza said Tuesday they have lost the ability to count the dead due to the collapse of parts of the enclave’s health care system and the difficulty of retrieving bodies from areas overrun by Israeli tanks and troops.
The Health Ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza, which carefully monitored casualties during the first five weeks of the war, announced its latest death toll of 11,078 on November 10.
The United Nations humanitarian agency, which cites the Health Ministry’s death toll in its regular reports, still refers to 11,078 as the latest verified death toll from the war.
The protest was led by Jewish Voice for Peace, an activist group that describes itself as the “largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization in the world,” made up primarily of people of the Jewish faith.
Protesters began blocking the road near Canal Street in Lower Manhattan around 2 p.m., many wearing shirts with the words “armistice now,” while some laid a banner on the sidewalk reading “the whole world is watching” and “let Gaza live ‘.
Organizers wore hoodies with the words “Jews now say ceasefire” and led chants of “Palestinians have the right to live in freedom” and “a break is not enough, let Gaza live” through megaphones.
It also comes after three Palestinian students were shot as they walked home from dinner in Vermont on Saturday night – which the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Commission said is a hate crime.
The victims of the shooting in Burlington, Vermont have been identified as Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdel Hamid and Tahseen Ahmed, all three are 20 years old.
Awartani is a student at Brown University, Hamid is a student at Haverford University and Ahmed is a student at Trinity College.
According to Burlington police, the men were wearing keffiyeh scarves and speaking Arabic when an unknown white gunman approached them.
Police have made no arrests and released no suspect information in this case.
Many protesters on the Manhattan Bridge wore keffiyehs — a monochrome-patterned scarf that is a patriotic symbol of Palestinian identity — and waved Palestinian flags.
The same group has led several other massive pro-Palestinian protests in the Big Apple recently, including the storming of Grand Central Station in late October and a Statue of Liberty rally in early November.
More than 1,000 protesters led by Jewish Voice for Peace blocked the Manhattan Bridge on Sunday, demanding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza
President Joe Biden celebrated the freedom of the first American prisoner – Abigail – who is now in the hands of Red Cross officials in Israel.
Biden said what the young person has experienced is “unthinkable” and that she has suffered “terrible trauma.”
“I wish I was there to hold her,” Biden said. “Today she is free, and Jilly and I, along with so many Americans, are praying that she is doing well.”
The president added that his goal is to extend the ceasefire for as long as possible.
Abigail was among 17 hostages freed on Sunday, including 14 Israelis, in the third exchange under a four-day truce that the US hoped would be extended. Israel released 39 prisoners in return.
Most of the hostages were handed over directly to Israel, waving to a cheering crowd as they arrived at an air base.
Others left via Egypt. The Israeli military said a person had been airlifted to a hospital, and the director of the Soroka Medical Center said 84-year-old Elma Avraham was in life-threatening condition as a result of an extended period of not being cared for as an elderly woman that was necessary. .’
A fourth exchange is expected on Monday – the final day of the ceasefire, during which a total of 50 hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners will be released. Most are women and minors.