Thousands of protesters stormed Grand Central Station sparking travel chaos for New Yorkers amid anger over the humanitarian crisis emerging in Gaza.

Protesters, mainly made up of Jewish people, shut down the station as they took over the main hall and blocked the main concourse.

New York police said at least 200 people had been arrested but the protest’s organisers put the number over 300.

The anti-war group Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) described their action as an “emergency sit-in”.

“Hundreds of Jews and allies are getting arrested in what is likely the biggest mass civil disobedience NYC has seen in two decades,” the group said on social media.

They went on to say that the peaceful protest was the “largest civil disobedience New York City has seen in 20 years”.

Pictures from the scene show dozens of protesters with their arms tied behind their backs as they called for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Donning black T-shirts reading “Ceasefire now” and “Not in our name”, the protesters called for an end to the bombardment of Gaza and freedom for Palestinians.

Donning black T-shirts reading 'Ceasefire now' and 'Not in our name', the protesters called for an end to the bombardment of Gaza and freedom for Palestinians

They also managed to hang banners from the concourse staircase and across the station’s departures board.

The protest came just hours after Israeli officials said they were stepping up both air and ground assaults.

IDF forces also cut off communication networks into the region.

Sirens sounded in several northern Israeli communities as several anti-tank missiles and mortars were fired towards Israel Defence Forces posts along the border with Lebanon.

Organisers called the peaceful protest the ‘largest civil disobedience New York City has seen in 20 years’

IDF tanks and artillery responded with fire towards the origin of the launches, “striking Hezbollah military infrastructure in Lebanon”, according to the Israeli military.

In a statement, Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum headquarters called for an open meeting with the Israeli government following the escalation.

“We demand the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence Gallant, and members of the war cabinet to meet with us immediately,” they said.

“The families spent a night in great anxiety.

“This night was the most terrible of all nights. It was a long and sleepless night, against the backdrop of the major IDF operation in the Strip, and absolute uncertainty regarding the fate of the hostages held there, who were also subject to the heavy bombings.

“Anxiety, frustration, and especially enormous anger that none of the war cabinet bothered to meet with the families of the hostages to explain one thing - whether the ground operation endangers the well-being of the 229 hostages in Gaza.

“The families are worried about the fate of their loved ones and are waiting for an explanation. Every minute feels like an eternity. We demand that Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and members of the war cabinet - meet with us this morning!”