Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Protesters arrested for causing traffic jam at JFK Airport while calling for Israel-Hamas cease-fire
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Dec 27, 2023
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Kena Betancur / AFP via Getty Images
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Dec 27, 2023
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Port Authority police arrested more than two dozen pro-Palestinian protestors who blocked the Van Wyck Expressway at JFK Airport in Queens on Wednesday in a demonstration that halted traffic for almost an hour.
Demonstrators drove to the airport, parked their cars in the middle of the road and linked hands shortly after 11 a.m., creating gridlock as travelers tried to get to the airport. They were calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war — in which more than 20,000 people have died since Oct. 7, according to health officials in Gaza.
“We wanted to specifically target the JFK Airport as a place where people are leaving to return to the Tel Aviv airport,” protester Sema Dayoub told Gothamist. “We really wanted to highlight that, while people are returning [home], Palestinians cannot.”
New York City has experienced about 450 demonstrations related to the war since it broke out, city officials said last week, noting that less than 1% of the roughly 158,000 people who participated received summonses or appearance tickets. Some of the protests have occurred at high-profile sites in the city, including the Statue of Liberty, Grand Central Terminal and college campuses.
The Port Authority said in a statement its officers arrested 26 people for disorderly conduct and impeding vehicular traffic on Wednesday. It added that the road reopened at 11:50 a.m. and two airport buses were dispatched to help stranded travelers reach the terminals.
Dayoub said the protesters were not affiliated with a specific activist group and organized the demonstration through word of mouth. They said the demonstrators passed out money to cab and ride-hail drivers to make up for their lost trips because of the temporary blockade.
“We understand that people are going to be frustrated, and that this is an inconvenience to people,” Dayoub said. “But in comparison, any inconvenience that we face, whether it be being stuck for a little bit, missing out on an hour of work or being late for your flight, it’s nothing compared to the suffering of the Palestinian people.”
Police escorted almost all the participants away from the road by 1 p.m.
Tagged
Israel-Hamas
new york city
public safety
jfk airport
queens
transportation
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Peepapalooza: NYC is heading to the Hudson Valley to watch the leaves
Don't be surprised if you run into someone from your building in Beacon.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
Sean Carlson
Published Oct 24, 2026 at 10:46 a.m. ET
NYPD: Officer shot, injured knife-wielding woman during ‘chaotic’ night at Queens home
The woman is in stable condition, police said, but several people were stabbed.
By
Ryan Kost
News
NYPD: Officer shot, injured knife-wielding woman during ‘chaotic’ night at Queens home
The woman is in stable condition, police said, but several people were stabbed.
By
Ryan Kost
3 slates vying to run Jersey City school board as city stares down major tax hikes
By
Michael Sol Warren
5 men charged with trespassing in 2 Manhattan manhole cases
By
Charles Lane
6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens
By
Charles Lane
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .