NEW YORK: Nearly 90 protesters were detained by police in New York City on Monday during demonstrations demanding an end to US arms sales to Israel and military support for its ally.
The protest, which included members of the anti-war organisation Jewish Voice for Peace, saw dozens gather outside the offices of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
According to the group, around 90 people were detained during the demonstration.
Among those taken into custody was Chelsea Manning, the former US Army intelligence analyst and whistleblower known for providing classified documents to WikiLeaks.
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) confirmed that there were multiple arrests but did not release an exact figure.
Videos circulating from the protest showed crowds chanting slogans such as “stop the bombs,” “end the killings,” and “free Palestine.”
Demonstrators also voiced opposition to the recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Israel’s military actions in Lebanon, and the ongoing assault on Gaza.
Additional chants included “let Gaza live,” “let Iran live,” and “let Lebanon live.”
The latest tensions follow joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran carried out on February 28, which prompted retaliatory attacks by Iran targeting Israel and Gulf states hosting US military bases.
The conflict has led to thousands of deaths and displaced millions across the region.
President Donald Trump’s administration has also intensified its response to campus and street protests by attempting to deport foreign students, threatening to freeze funding for universities where demonstrations took place, and ordering the review of immigrants’ online activity.
However, several of these measures have faced legal challenges in the courts.
New York City was previously a major centre of pro-Palestinian demonstrations in 2024, with large-scale protests taking place across universities and public spaces.
US military support for Israel has come under increasing criticism from human rights groups, particularly in light of Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands, displaced nearly the entire population of the territory, and triggered severe hunger and humanitarian crises.
Scholars and a United Nations inquiry have also raised concerns, with some assessments describing the situation as genocide.