Several hundred American progressive Jewish activists peacefully occupied the Statue of Liberty in New York on Monday to demand a ceasefire from Israel and an end to the “genocidal bombing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza,” AFP reported.

Pro-Palestinian protests in New YorkPhoto: Allison Bailey/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Editorial/Profimedia

Several hundred young people wearing black T-shirts with the slogans “Jews demand a ceasefire now” or “Not in our name” unfurled banners reading “The whole world is watching” and “Palestinians must be free” at the base of the New York symbol.

“The famous words of our Jewish ancestor Emma Lazarus engraved on this monument compel us to act in support of the Palestinians in Gaza who seek to live in freedom,” said Jay Saper of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) in a statement.

In a statement, the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) called for “an end to Israel’s genocidal bombing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.”

“While the people of Gaza scream, we must scream louder, despite attempts to silence us,” shouted American photographer Nancy Goldin, also in the presence of local councilors in New York, some of whom are very left-leaning. .

The American metropolis, the mythical world city of immigration and multiculturalism, was shaken by a month of pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

New York, home to some two million Jews and hundreds of thousands of Muslims, has so far avoided violence, but tensions are palpable, especially on college campuses like Columbia.

In addition, a very progressive segment of American Jewish youth, the vast majority of whom vote for the Democratic Party, are rebelling against Israel, which they accuse of “genocide” against the Palestinians in Gaza. They also condemn President Joe Biden’s military and diplomatic support for Israel.

On Saturday, organizations such as the JVP gathered tens of thousands of demonstrators in the federal capital, Washington, to demand an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and to criticize the US policy of supporting Israel.

Manhattan’s vast Central Station was also occupied by thousands of people in late October with the same demands, and ten days earlier by thousands of pro-Palestinians, including from American Jewish organizations.

  • ​Follow the latest developments in the war between Israel and Hamas LIVETEXT on HOTNEWS.RO.