Widespread protests have erupted in the United States following the start of Israel's ground invasion of Gaza in response to the Hamas attack on October 7th. The tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas war have divided student groups and sparked anger throughout the country, leading to both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrations in New York.

On Thursday, a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators, led by media workers calling themselves the "Writers Bloc," made their way from Midtown Manhattan to The New York Times office, demanding a Gaza ceasefire. The protesters accused the media of bias towards Israel in its coverage of the war and accused The New York Times of complicity in "laundering genocide."

As the protesters reached The New York Times building on Eighth Avenue near Times Square, they briefly occupied the lobby, carrying a banner calling for a ceasefire. Inside the atrium, they read out the names of thousands of Palestinians killed in Gaza, including 36 journalists who lost their lives since the war began. In an act of defiance, the protesters scattered mock editions of a newspaper titled "The New York War Crimes," which accused The New York Times of spreading falsehoods.

Angry chants of "F*** New York Times" and "Tell the truth" filled the air as the demonstrators voiced their frustration with the newspaper. Some protesters even graffitied the word “Lies” across the doors of The New York Times headquarters. The group demanded that The New York Times' editorial board publicly support a ceasefire.

Despite the tense situation, the protest remained peaceful, with no entrances blocked, as described by an email sent to The New York Times staffers by the publication's head of corporate security. Police arrived at the scene and cleared out the protesters around 6pm, without making any immediate arrests.

The demonstration at The New York Times building was just one of several actions taking place in New York City to raise awareness about the conflict in Gaza. Earlier in the week, hundreds of people gathered in Grand Central Terminal, causing a shutdown during rush hour. The protesters, holding banners that read "Ceasefire Now," aimed to draw attention to the escalating death toll in Gaza.

The ongoing war in Gaza has resulted in over 10,800 deaths since the October 7th attack by Hamas on southern Israel, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. The Independent has reached out to The New York Times for comment on the allegations of bias in their coverage of the Israel-Hamas war.

The protests in New York City highlight the deep divisions and passionate opinions regarding the Israel-Hamas war. The demonstrations have also sparked incidents of anti-Muslim and antisemitic violence, further escalating tensions throughout the country.