LA protest blocks traffic over Gaza aid

Hundreds of pro‑Palestinian demonstrators blocked Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, gathering in front of the Israeli Consulate General to denounce Israel’s seizure of a flotilla carrying aid and activists to Gaza. Organisers said the action was meant to “reject Israel’s attack on the flotilla” and to protest what they described as two years of genocide in the enclave.

The flotilla, called the Global Sumud Flotilla, comprised more than 40 civilian vessels transporting medicine, food and roughly 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists.

In Los Angeles, protesters formed human chains, waved Palestinian flags and held signs such as “Free Palestine,” causing significant traffic delays and prompting police deployment to manage the crowd and divert vehicles. Law‑enforcement officers stationed at intersections warned that continued blockage of a major thoroughfare could result in arrests if demonstrators failed to disperse.

The demonstration formed part of a broader wave of U.S. protests coinciding with recent visits by Israeli officials and escalating fighting in Gaza. Organisers aimed to draw attention to civilian suffering, demand a U.S.‑led ceasefire, and press the Israeli consulate to condemn military operations and support human‑rights investigations. City officials expressed concern over public‑safety impacts, while demonstrators pledged to keep the protests alive until their demands are heard.

Protesters also chanted slogans such as “No to genocide” and “Justice for Gaza,” and many carried placards calling for the release of the detained activists. While the crowd remained largely peaceful, tensions rose when bystanders attempted to navigate the blocked lanes, leading to near‑confrontations that police quickly diffused with verbal warnings and the presence of riot‑gear‑equipped units.

Local organizers highlighted the symbolic importance of the Los Angeles action, noting that the city’s diverse population includes a sizable Arab‑American community and that the demonstration echoed similar blockades on major streets in New York, Washington DC and Chicago. They urged the U.S. government to pressure Israel for an immediate ceasefire and to facilitate independent investigations into alleged war crimes in Gaza.

City officials, including the mayor’s office, issued statements emphasizing the need to keep traffic arteries open for emergency services and commuters. Police issued citations to a handful of participants who refused to move after repeated orders, though no arrests were reported at the time of reporting.