Iconic Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in chaos as anti-Israel protesters block road

The famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York has descended into chaos after a road was blocked in front of a Ronald McDonald balloon by pro-Palestine protesters and police were called in

Pro-Palestine protesters have caused chaos at an iconic Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City.

For the second year running there were disturbances at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan on Thursday. Protesters entered the parade route at West 55th Street and Sixth Avenue right as a Ronald McDonald balloon was making its way down to Herald Square.

With the road blocked police swarmed the scene and made arrests as they tried to get the parade back on track. Footage on social media show protesters with signs reading “Don’t celebrate genocide!” or "Free Palestine."

The demonstrators were also booed by many in the thousands of people assembled to watch the parade, now in its 98th year. Other videos show protestors being flipped onto their stomachs while others quietly went with police. During one video a person holding the banner scuffled with police before they were thrown onto the ground and handcuffed.

Minutes after assembling on the road, NYPD officers descended upon the chanting crowd and swiftly arrested the men and women. While being handcuffed, many of the members continued to chant: “Free, free Palestine!” Many in the crowd also shouted “USA! USA! USA!” as the protesters were taken away.

About five minutes after the incident, the parade got underway again and the beloved Ronald McDonald float passed to many cheers with the balloon line leader telling the audience, “Ronald McDonald, everybody!”

Prior to the parade, New York Mayor Eric Adams had reportedly issued a warning to anyone who was thinking of protesting. “I really want to take the moment to tell those grinches that believe they are going to disrupt the parade that it is not going to happen,” Mayor Adams said Wednesday night.

The protest at the parade came after the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah militants was agreed. It means an initial two-month halt to fighting and requires Hezbollah to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops are to return to their side of the border. An international panel led by the United States will monitor compliance.

Israel though has said it will attack if Hezbollah breaks the ceasefire agreement. According to the terms of the agreement, Hezbollah must end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops must return to their side of the border. But implementation remains a major question mark.

The Israeli military also issued numerous evacuation warnings, signalling an intent to intensify strikes against Hezbollah before the ceasefire took effect. For the first time in the conflict, Israeli ground forces advanced to parts of Lebanon’s Litani River, a key strategic area central to the proposed agreement.