Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters caused uproar in Midtown Manhattan on Christmas Day, as they marched towards the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, chanting slogans and carrying a blood-red mock Nativity scene. Around 500 demonstrators gathered, chanting "Christmas is canceled here" and proclaiming, "Long live the intifada," as they waved signs and banners.

The protest, the latest in a series of anti-Israel demonstrations in the city, followed Hamas' October sneak attack, which prompted retaliatory strikes from the Jewish state in the Gaza Strip. Sunday night saw a pro-Palestinian car caravan disrupt Christmas carolers at Washington Square Park, further fueling tensions.

The demonstration aimed at the Manhattan area, popular with holiday revelers and tourists, led to heightened police presence outside the News Corp headquarters on Sixth Avenue. This building houses various media outlets, including Fox News, The Post, and the Wall Street Journal. The headquarters have been targeted by protesters in the past, as several incidents occurred last month.

On November 29, a group of demonstrators attempted to disrupt the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting for Gaza but were prevented by the police. During the incident, some individuals carried a swastika, leading to at least seven arrests and occasional skirmishes between the protesters and the NYPD.

A smaller group targeted the News Corp headquarters on November 17, forcing their way into the lobby and calling for "direct action" to "globalize intifada." Sixteen protesters were arrested on that occasion, while others dispersed from the area. Prior to these incidents, Within Our Lifetime, a pro-Palestinian group, had identified News Corp as an enemy and called for protests against it and other "colonized" sites.

The latest protest on Christmas Day in Midtown serves as a reminder of the ongoing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that have spilled over into the streets of New York City. The demonstrations have disrupted holiday celebrations and sparked clashes with law enforcement, highlighting the need for continued dialogue and peaceful activism to address the conflict.