Dozens of anti-Israel protesters wrought havoc at one of the busiest airports in the U.S. on Monday, blocking traffic and chanting anti-Israel slogans from their vehicles.
The anti-Israeli demonstrators launched their “Flood JFK For Gaza” demonstration, forcing police to temporarily block off the Belt Parkway, a prime route to JFK. On Monday, 60 flights were delayed at JFK, FlightAware reported. The Chief of Transportation for the NYPD reported that the demonstrators headed for LaGuardia airport, writing: “The protest car caravan originally near JFK is traveling W/B on GCP at 27 Ave. The right and center lanes are blocked and are headed towards Laguardia Airport.”
The use of the term “flood” by anti-Israel demonstrators is an oblique reference to the October 7 Hamas massacre of 1,220 Israelis, which they called the “Al Aqsa Flood.”
🚨UPDATE🚨
The protest car caravan originally near JFK is traveling W/B on GCP at 27 Ave. The right and center lanes are blocked and are headed towards Laguardia Airport. pic.twitter.com/UaDRl2iUbP— Chief of Transportation (@NYPDTransport) January 1, 2024
Of the 60 flights delayed at JFK, 15 of them were delayed because of the anti-Israel protesters, who impeded traffic for over two hours, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, The New York Post reported. A viral video also showed a large balloon flying in the air near JFK Airport as the anti-Israel demonstrators blocked traffic.
BREAKING:
Anti-Israel protesters launch a large balloon in front of JFK Airport, trying to shut down the airport.
They launched the ballon as planes were landing and taking off.
They were clearly willing to gamble with the lives of hundreds of people. pic.twitter.com/V0O8LvnG9q
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) January 1, 2024
Many have accused the protesters of launching the balloon and endangering the lives of holiday travelers, but the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), which owns and operates JFK, issued a statement saying, “We do not have any information about any balloon.”
According to The New York Post, a law enforcement source confirmed that the “balloons were flown over the Queens airport as the protest was ongoing.” The FBI is reportedly investigating who let the balloons go as they could have posed a potential risk to incoming and outgoing aircraft.
Prior to the demonstration, NYPD Chief of Transportation Chief Philip Rivera posted on X, “If anyone is flying out of JFK Airport today, please plan to travel to the airport ahead of time. There are planned protests today and will cause delays. We don’t want anyone to miss their flights!”
If anyone is flying out of JFK Airport today, please plan to travel to the airport ahead of time. There are planned protests today and will cause delays. We don't want anyone to miss their flights! Safe travels and Happy New Year.#nypdconnecting #nypdprotecting pic.twitter.com/qpErgidNCi
— Chief of Transportation (@NYPDTransport) January 1, 2024
Before the New Year’s Day incident, on December 27 anti-Israel demonstrators blocked entrance roads to airports John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens and Los Angeles International Airport in California; 62 people were arrested.