On Thursday, a large number of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through the streets of New York, organizing a symbolic funeral to protest against Israel’s ongoing intense bombardment of the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Carrying signs calling for an urgent ceasefire, the activists assembled in Bryant Park in Manhattan, and a few briefly positioned themselves in the midst of the bustling Sixth Avenue in the heart of New York’s Midtown district.
Numerous women veiled in black attire carried baby dolls wrapped in white cloths to symbolize the impact of the conflict on children in the besieged coastal area.
The simulated funeral procession proceeded to Times Square, an iconic location in New York, where the protest persisted with large electronic advertisements serving as a backdrop.
Grace Lile, a 64-year-old archivist, stated that the purpose of the day’s action was to highlight that nearly 10,000 children, solely children, have lost their lives in Gaza, not including the broader Palestinian population.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which escalated with Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, has caused significant devastation in northern Gaza.
The fighting has been particularly intense in the southern city of Khan Yunis. Israel has expressed its intention to retaliate and dismantle Hamas following the October 7 attack, resulting in a substantial number of casualties, mainly civilians.
The reported death toll varies between sources, based on Israeli figures indicating about 1,140 deaths. Additionally, according to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 21,320 people, predominantly women and children, have been killed due to Israel’s ongoing aerial bombardment and ground invasion.
Since the October 7 attack and Israel’s military response, New York City has witnessed numerous protests, featuring both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrators participating in street demonstrations.