In response to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, protests demanding a ceasefire have erupted across major cities in the United States. The demonstrations have seen a decline in public support for Israel, as recent polling suggests that a majority of Americans believe Israel should call for a ceasefire and engage in negotiations.

On Friday morning, New York City witnessed arrests of pro-Palestine supporters who had occupied the headquarters of News Corp, a prominent media company. Chanting slogans like "Shame" and "Fox News... you can't hide. Your lies cover up genocide," demonstrators gathered in the News Corp lobby. The protesters accused the media company, which owns Fox News, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Post, of biased reporting.

Alongside the occupation of News Corp, pro-ceasefire demonstrators were also arrested after blocking the entrance to BNY Mellon, a corporate investment company based in New York City. The protesters claim that BNY Mellon holds shares in weapons supply for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and they staged this action to draw attention to the company's alleged involvement.

In addition to these incidents, students from Columbia University and New York University (NYU) were planning a sit-in at an unnamed bank that financially supports NYU's Tel Aviv campus. Organizers argue that these universities are complicit in the "legitimizing of Israeli apartheid" and the "funding of settler colonial expansions" through real estate projects built on former Palestinian villages.

The demonstrations are likely to continue throughout the weekend, with more protests anticipated in major cities like New York and Chicago. This wave of protests follows the recent demonstration in San Francisco, where 200 people shut down a portion of the Bay Bridge in a call for a ceasefire, resulting in numerous arrests. Moreover, Washington DC witnessed a violent clash between police and protesters on Capitol Hill, leaving 90 individuals injured, according to the Ceasefire Now Coalition.

Reuters reported a decline in public support for Israel in the United States in the past month, with a majority of Americans now advocating for a ceasefire. A Reuters/Ispos opinion poll showed that 68% of respondents agreed that Israel should call for a ceasefire and engage in negotiations. Moreover, within the Democratic Party, a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll revealed that a majority of Democratic voters believe Israel's response to the Hamas attack on October 7th was excessive, and that its military operations in Gaza have been "too much." This sentiment was also echoed by people of color and those under the age of 45, highlighting generational and racial divides in support for Israel.

Conversely, among Republicans, 52% believed that Israel's response was "about right," indicating an increase from the previous month's poll. Overall, however, the majority of respondents expressed more sympathy towards Israelis than Palestinians.

As the protests gain momentum across the United States, the demand for a ceasefire in Gaza continues to grow, raising questions and concerns about the ongoing conflict and its impact on US public opinion.