A Jewish group demanding a ceasefire in Israel's war in Gaza held protests on Thursday in eight U.S. cities on the eighth night of Hanukkah, blocking rush hour traffic on busy streets and bridges in Washington and Philadelphia.
In Washington, the group Jewish Voice for Peace said about 90 protesters blocked the overpass to New York Avenue in the northwestern part of the U.S. capital. Police said the demonstration closed the intersection of New York Avenue and North Capitol Street and urged people to use alternate routes.
"On the 8th night of Hanukkah, 8 cities, 8 bridges," Jewish Voice for Peace said on X, formerly called Twitter. "We are here, gathering across the country in massive, growing numbers, to say no more."
Demonstrations also occurred in Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Minneapolis, Seattle and Portland, Oregon.
In Philadelphia, about 200 protesters briefly blocked the I-76 highway, and more than 30 arrests were made, a Reuters witness said. Protesters held signs and banners that read: "Let Gaza Live" and "Not in our name."
The United Nations on Tuesday demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip where Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas militants.
The war in Gaza has led to pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protests in the United States since Oct. 7 when Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that rules Gaza, killed 1,200 Israelis and seized 240 hostages in a cross-border raid.
Since then, Israeli forces have besieged the coastal enclave and laid much of it to waste, with nearly 19,000 people dead, according to Palestinian health officials.
On Wednesday, anti-war activists blocked traffic on a busy Los Angeles highway during the morning rush hour and while some staff from the Biden administration also held a vigil demanding a ceasefire.
32 protesters arrested for blocking traffic on I-76 in Center City Philadelphia
More than 30 protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza were arrested for blocking traffic on the westbound lanes of the Schuylkill Expressway in Center City Philadelphia.
Police say it happened around 3:30 p.m. Thursday as the group of about 150 people with Jewish Voice for Peace started gathering on the Spring Garden Street Bridge, hanging banners that read "Let Gaza Live" and "Ceasefire Now."
At some point, police say protesters, who were in cars below the overpass, got out of their vehicles and shut down the westbound lanes of I-76.
Chopper 6 was overhead as Philadelphia police and Pennsylvania State Police swarmed the group.
According to Interim Police Commissioner John Stanford, 32 people were arrested and will be cited for being on the highway.
Jay Bergen was one of those take into custody.
"We as people of faith and people of conscience need to be speaking out and saying business as usual cannot continue," said Bergen.
The Schuylkill Expressway and the Spring Garden Street Bridge have since reopened to traffic.
Later in the evening, the group of protesters briefly walked to the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps before dispersing.
Organizers say these demonstrations will continue with no end in sight.
"As a Jewish student, I stand with my broader community and we will do whatever it takes, as long as it takes," said Hilah Cohen, an Israeli-American student.
The protest coincided with the last night of Hannukah. Philadelphia was one of the eight cities to participate in this nationwide protest Thursday.
Earlier this year, a similar protest was held at 30th Street Station. In that demonstration, more than 60 protesters were arrested for blocking entrances to trains.
An anti-Zionism Jewish group demanding a ceasefire in Israel's war in Gaza held protests in eight US cities on the eighth night of Hanukkah .
Dozens of anti-Zionism Jewish protesters shut down a major freeway in Los Angeles to demand a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza pic.twitter.com/5EeHJReIU1
— TRT World (@trtworld) December 14, 2023
Israeli leaflets incite Gaza residents to spy on Hamas leaders
The Israeli army has dropped leaflets over besieged Gaza, inciting displaced Palestinians to spy on their leaders and offering financial rewards for information leading to the capture of top figures of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.
Palestinian activists circulated images online of the leaflets, in which the army incited residents to provide information about Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, and his brother Muhammed Sinwar, a prominent military leader in Hamas’s armed wing Al Qassam Brigades, in addition to Mohammed Deif, the general commander of Al Qassam Brigades, and Rafaa Salameh, who commands the Khan Younis Battalion.
"Those who provide information will receive a financial reward as follows: Yahya Sinwar, $400,000; Muhammed Sinwar, $300,000; Rafaa Salameh, $200,000; Mohammed Deif, $100,000."
The leaflets, bearing the name and emblem of the Israeli army, said: "People of Gaza, Hamas has lost its strength. The end of Hamas is near."
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