A coalition of activists and New York State Senator Jabari Brisport gathered outside the World Trade Center on Thursday to demand an end to the transfer of military materials to Israel via John F. Kennedy International Airport. The demonstration, organized under the Break the Chain campaign led by the Democratic Socialists of America, highlighted concerns regarding the regular use of civilian infrastructure for military logistics.
The protest follows reporting from The Intercept which documented that Challenge Airlines, an Israel-based cargo company founded in 1976, has transported various military supplies through JFK. These shipments reportedly include nitrocellulose, bomb casings, and guidance kits. Open-source data cited in the report links weapons flown out of the airport to mass casualty attacks in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.
During the height of the US-Israeli war on Iran, which began on February 28, The Intercept noted that thousands of pounds of parts for bunker-buster bombs passed through JFK. Activists argue that military cargo bound for Israel moves through the airport multiple times a week, a frequency they believe places undue burden on civilian aviation hubs.
Representatives from Jewish Voice for Peace, the Palestinian Youth Movement, and Brooklyn for Peace joined the demonstration. They called for greater accountability from the Port Authority, which holds jurisdiction over JFK. Ibtihal Aboussad of the Palestinian Youth Movement suggested that these shipments may have contributed to the recent bombing of the Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza, an attack that killed at least six people, including Dr. Rizk Abu Shaira.
Aboussad described the precision bomb used in that hospital strike as an American product manufactured by Boeing and funded by taxpayers. She noted that the airport is located mere miles from the protesters and questioned why it should function as a key node in the military supply chain.
Senator Brisport addressed the Port Authority board on Thursday, focusing on the public safety risks associated with transporting nitrocellulose. He referenced a previous explosion at a port in China involving similar materials, which resulted in approximately 170 deaths. Brisport requested that the Port Authority publicly release its agreements with Challenge Airlines and any other carriers handling hazardous materials.
In a statement to Middle East Eye, a Port Authority spokesperson said the agency is taking all possible measures to ensure public safety. However, the spokesperson clarified that the responsibility for what is allowed on aircraft is deferred to individual airlines and the federal government.
Ibrahim Mossallam, a commercial airline pilot, also testified before the board. He expressed concern that passengers and crew are often unaware of the specific cargo on their flights, as not all military supplies are classified as hazardous. Mossallam described the situation as unsettling, particularly given the active military zones where these materials are being used.
Mossallam, who is Palestinian, said he feels betrayed by the government and airlines, noting that the issue is personal for him. He demanded that the Port Authority stop allowing airlines to ship weapons through both JFK and Newark airports on all planes bound for Israel.
The UN has deemed the war in Gaza a genocide, with over 74,500 Palestinians killed since October 2023. As of March 2025, at least 1,722 healthcare workers have been killed in the conflict, according to United Nations data.
