Protesters Shut Down New York’s Grand Central Station, Demanding Gaza Ceasefire

On Friday, a significant protest occurred as hundreds of demonstrators gathered to call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, leading to the closure of Grand Central Terminal in New York City, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

The MTA announced the terminal’s closure on its official platform, advising commuters to consider alternative transit stations and allow for additional travel time. One of the prominent messages displayed at the protest was, “Mourn the dead, and fight like hell for the living.”

Social media platforms were flooded with images showing protestors spilling out of the train station and onto 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan, with many being detained by law enforcement officials. The organization Jewish Voice for Peace, which spearheaded the demonstration, shared a video featuring police officers escorting a lengthy line of protesters. These individuals were adorned in shirts declaring “Cease Fire Now” and “Not In Our Name,” with their arms restrained behind their backs.

The organization noted in a social media post, “HUNDREDS OF JEWS AND ALLIES ARE GETTING ARRESTED IN WHAT IS LIKELY THE BIGGEST MASS CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE NYC HAS SEEN IN TWO DECADES.”

Simultaneously, the Israeli military expanded its air and ground operations in Gaza, while Hamas, the militant group that governs the region, announced its readiness to confront these assaults with “full force.”