Videos Show NY Chaos as Anti-Israel Protester Tears Down US Flags

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators attempted to force their way into New York's Grand Central Terminal on Friday night, smashing several windows and scuffling with police, as part of a protest that also saw American flags torn down and an Israeli flag burned.

Friday's demonstration began at 5 p.m. with thousands of activists taking to the streets to protest the ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza. This followed the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7 that left an estimated 1,200 dead. More than 11,000 people have been killed in the territory since Israeli forces began their operation, according to the Associated Press.

Footage posted on X, formerly Twitter, by New York Post reporter Steven Vago shows a group of demonstrators, many with their faces masked, trying to push their way into Grand Central Terminal, with one man kicking in two windows.

In another clip posted by Vago, a young woman, whom he identifies as an "Israeli supporter" is seen crying, while a masked man shouts "cry, b****, cry" at her.

During a separate incident, a masked protester is seen climbing onto a traffic pole and tearing down two American flags as police begin to move in.

The demonstration also made its way past the headquarters of The New York Times, which was covered with red paint.

A New York Police Department spokesperson told Newsweek that six people had been taken into custody following a disturbance at Columbus Circle, by Central Park, but couldn't confirm if this was related to the pro-Palestinian demonstration.

Grand Central Terminal was closed for several hours due to the disturbance, with reopening at 11:50 pm, according to an alert from Notify NYC.

Two of the groups backing the demonstration were Within Our Lifetime and the City University of New York for Palestine, which produced a joint graphic that was posted on Instagram, urging their supporters to "flood Manhattan for Gaza."

The groups said: "Gaza calls, we respond. Palestine will be free, because when we resist we win together. Ceasefire. But don't let it stop there. Cease genocide. Cease the siege. Cease the blockade. Cease occupation. Cease funding israel. Cease settler colonization. Cease Zionism. Cease imperialism. If you want a liberated Palestine with dignity and freedom for all people, we must be fighting for much more."

Also on Friday, New York's Columbia University suspended two student groups, Jewish Voice for Peace and Students for Justice in Palestine, which it said had organized pro-Palestinian demonstrations around campus that had "repeatedly violated university policies."

In a statement, Gerald Rosberg, senior executive vice president of the university, said: "This decision was made after the two groups repeatedly violated University policies related to holding campus events, culminating in an unauthorized event Thursday afternoon that proceeded despite warnings and included threatening rhetoric and intimidation."

A large pro-Palestinian demonstration is expected outside the American Embassy in London on Saturday, with a counter-demonstration called by groups such as the Democratic Football Lads Alliance.