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At least 50 pro-Palestinian protesters have been arrested for blocking the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge while calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
Protestors blocked all lanes of the vital westbound I-80 on the Bay Bridge, California Highway Patrol said on Thursday morning.
This afternoon a far-right lane of westbound traffic has since reopened and a second lane is expect to open soon, reported KRON.
Highway patrol officials said 50 people have been arrested and at least 15 cars removed from the bridge.
Officials said at least another 50 protesters could be arrested following a review of videos of active participants, officials said.
The group are demanding a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war that started on October 7 when the terrorist organization launched an attack on Israel that killed 1,400 Israelis and seized about 240 hostages in the worst attack in the country's history.
Officials said 50 pro-Palestinian protesters have been arrested while blocking the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge
A protester is seen crying while be arrested after blocking the Bay Bridge demanding the U.S. stop sending military aid to Israel
Pro-Palestinian protesters shutdown San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge Thursday
Protesters demanding a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas carry signs that said 'stop the genocide'
Photos show the demonstrators rolled out signs that say 'no U.S. military aid to Israel' and 'Biden Ceasefire.'
Some protesters chained themselves together to block off the roadway and were chanting 'ceasefire now.' Others laid on the ground with sheets over their bodies that said, 'stop the genocide.'
The Arab Resource and Organizing Center posted to Twitter that the protesters were there to call out the president.
'There’s a genocide happening in #Gaza and @POTUS is hosting cocktail parties in #SanFrancisco. Bay Area has shut down the Bay Bridge to demand #CeasefireNOW. No more $ for genocide,' the group said.
President Joe Biden is in the Bay Area this week for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, a high-profile summit of 21 countries, and met with China's President Xi Jinping.
A California Highway Patrol spokesman said all protesters had been arrested and officers were working to remove the vehicles from the roadway, reported CBS San Francisco.
Some protesters carry a sign that said 'no U.S. military aid to Israel' while others lay on the ground
🚨Thousands of Pro-Palestine protesters shut down Bay Bridge during commute hours, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza while Joe Biden & Xi Jinping are here in San Francisco, Is this the Insurrection? pic.twitter.com/H4YfbTUUxY
— Sociat USA 🇺🇸 (@SociatUSA) November 16, 2023The group blocked a key route into the city which is hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit
'It's gonna take a little while. However, we're not going to be blocking all the lanes so we're hoping we can reopen at least one or two lanes in the meantime so that traffic can start flowing,' said highway patrol spokesman Officer Art Montiel.
Pro-Palestinian protesters have been boycotting the APEC summit. On Wednesday, protesters clashed with riot police while they tried to block people from attending the CEO summit but were unsuccessful as attendees entered through an alleyway.
Israel retaliated to the October 7 attack with an aerial bombing and ground offensive, killing more than 10,000 Gazans and leading pro-Palestinian protesters to call for an immediate ceasefire.
The Israeli military claimed to have found military equipment and 'terror infrastructure' during their search of Gaza's largest hospital, Al Shifa hospital.
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