New York: While the relentless Israeli bombardment on Gaza goes on with the global majors watching it with reluctance to intervene, hundreds of protestors, predominantly from the advocacy group Jewish Voice for Peace, gathered for a sit-in outside the iconic Statue of Liberty and chanted "Never again for anyone, never again is now," a slogan heard in a rally aftermath of the Holocaust.
The protestors demanded an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip. Banners draped over the pedestal declared messages such as "Ceasefire Now!" and "The Whole World is Watching."
The demonstration, which drew approximately 500 participants, marked the latest in a series of protests by the Jewish Voice for Peace, with previous gatherings at Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan and the Canon House Office Building on Capitol Hill.
The organization, led by members who oppose the Israeli government's policies towards Palestinians, framed their cause within the context of shared struggles for freedom. "Just like Palestinians, so many of our ancestors yearned to breathe free," the group expressed on social media.
Amidst the demonstration, there has been no official word on arrests from organizers or the US Park Police, responsible for patrolling the island where the Statue of Liberty stands.
The protest unfolded against the grim backdrop of the conflict's toll, with Hamas-controlled health authorities in Gaza reporting a death toll surpassing 10,000, including over 4,000 children, due to Israeli strikes. International pressure for a ceasefire has intensified, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres describing Gaza as a "graveyard for children."