Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered Monday in the heart of Manhattan, denouncing the Israeli occupation government and demanding that the United States stop supporting its ally, amid an ongoing Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip.

People of all ages stood outside the Israeli consulate general waving Palestinian flags. Young activists wearing Palestinian keffiyeh headscarves took turns at a megaphone to demand a "free Palestine" and "an end of the colonization and occupation of our Arab land."

This comes as the Israeli occupation continues its brutal aggression against the Gaza Strip for the fourth day in a row. The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that 687 Palestinians, including 140 children and 105 women, have been martyred, while 3,726 were injured as a result of deliberate Israeli targeting of civilians in the Strip.

It is noteworthy that the Pentagon said on Sunday it was sending the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its accompanying warships to the eastern Mediterranean in a show of support for the Israeli occupation.

US Central Command confirmed Sunday afternoon that ships and planes had begun moving to their new posts. Hamas later accused the United States of "actual participation in the aggression against our people" by moving the aircraft carrier.

Following the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood that the Palestinian Resistance launched on Saturday against continuous Israeli occupation violations, the White House has moved quickly to affirm US backing for "Israel", vowing "rock solid" support and warning other parties to stay out of the confrontation.

Read more: International solidarity with Palestine against Israeli aggression