Pro-Palestine activists blocked major highways at two of the nation's busiest international airports on Wednesday - right in the middle of the busy holiday travel season. 

62 people were arrested for blocking entrances at LAX and JFK airports in Los Angeles and New York.

Protesters block highways

For around 20 minutes, protesters blocked Van Wyck Expressway, a busy highway that provides access to JFK in Queens.

Some holiday travelers bypassed the blockade on foot to avoid missing their flights. The Port Authority sent two buses to help travelers get around the obstruction.

26 people were arrested for disorderly conduct and impeding vehicular traffic outside Terminal 4.

"From the river to the sea"

The protesters chanted, "Palestine will live forever" and "from the river to the sea," which has been described as a call for Israel's erasure.

There was a similar demonstration outside LAX airport in Los Angeles that was even more aggressive.

That protest was declared a riot after a police officer was thrown to the ground. The rioters used tree branches and blocks of concrete to block the road and assaulted passerby.

"Protestors threw a police officer to the ground, used construction debris, road signs, tree branches, and blocks of concrete to obstruct Century BLVD while attacking uninvolved passerbys (sic) in their vehicles," LAPD said. "This unlawful behavior is dangerous and will not be tolerated. Approx. 36 protesters were arrested and booked for 404.6 PC (Rioting) and at least one arrested for battery on a police officer."

Protesting, or domestic terrorism?

For weeks, protesters demanding an end to the war in Gaza have disrupted traffic, occupied government buildings and targeted famous landmarks like New York City's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.

While some of these protests fall under the First Amendment, some, like blocking highways, surely cross the line into criminality or even terrorism.

Many protesters have expressed anger with the Biden administration for failing to do more to confront Israel.

Biden has distanced himself somewhat from Israel as the death toll rises in Gaza, but the U.S. president has rejected calls for a cease-fire.

Despite pressure from Biden to de-escalate, Israel has said the war will continue for months longer until Hamas is defeated.

"There are no shortcuts when it comes to thoroughly dismantling a terrorist organization except being stubborn and determined in the fighting," Herzi Halevi, chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said.