New York City’s Times Square is gearing up for the annual New Year’s Eve celebration amid concerns that thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters will disrupt proceedings.
While there are no known security threats, NYPD officials are taking precautions after six protesters were arrested near the Rockefeller Centre on Christmas Day following clashes with police.
Pro-Palestinian groups are protesting against Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in the deaths of large numbers of civilians, including children, after Hamas launched a terror attack on October 7.
John Hart, an assistant NYPD chief, said that preparations were in place for mass protests of any size during Sunday’s celebration.
This follows months of demonstrations in the city, drawing between 1,000 and 5,000 participants.
Kaz Daughtry, assistant NYPD Commissioner, said that the department would use a similar blueprint to when pro-Palestinians protested during the Rockefeller Centre Christmas tree lighting in November.
The demonstration took place amid concerns that the NYPD’s response may have been ‘hampered’ by the requirement, as part of a court settlement, to deploy fewer officers to public protests.
