Oct. 7: Numerous individuals were taken into custody as protestors in New York demanded a ceasefire in Gaza

According to a report by the New York Post, six individuals were arrested following confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement officials near the New York Public Library and Times Square on Monday.

Marking the anniversary of the October 7 al-Aqsa Flood and the subsequent conflict in Gaza, thousands of American pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets of Manhattan and other cities nationwide, advocating for a ceasefire in the region. The demonstrations, however, resulted in confrontations with law enforcement authorities.

A demonstration took place as individuals convened at Central Park in New York, spearheaded by the organization Within Our Lifetime, which urged participants to “flood New York City for Palestine.”

Demonstrators brandishing Palestinian flags and donning Kaffiyehs vocalized anti-Israel sentiments with chants including, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” “Biden, you’re a liar,” and “Cease-fire now.” The protesters also carried placards stating, “Israel is starving Palestinian children.”

Gamal Amin, a protester voicing opposition to U.S. support for both the ongoing conflict and Israel’s military activities, stated that the situation reflects a broader pattern of American imperialism, with the United States serving as a colonial patron to Israel. He characterized the potential escalation of the conflict into Lebanon as merely another stage in this imperialistic agenda.

In addition, several demonstrators brought attention to the plight of individuals impacted by Hurricane Helene, incorporating these concerns into their calls for ending financial aid to Israel. They posed a critical question on prioritization, asking whether the needs of residents in North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, and New York should take precedence over alleged war criminals.

Earlier today, hundreds of students at Columbia University, predominantly wearing keffiyehs, participated in a walkout in response to a call by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). The demonstration was held to protest the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Protesters also recited a list of Palestinians who have lost their lives due to actions by Israeli forces since October 7, 2023.

Simultaneously, demonstrators convened in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and various locations across the United States to express their disapproval of the Biden administration’s involvement in Israel’s military actions in Gaza. They also condemned the ongoing military operations in the occupied West Bank and Lebanon.

Demonstrations were organized at university campuses nationwide, where earlier this year, solidarity encampments in support of Gaza faced stringent enforcement measures.

Since the commencement of the conflict, the United States has allocated $17.9 billion exclusively in military assistance to Israel, as detailed in a report released by Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs.

According to the report, the United States has allocated an additional $4.86 billion towards supporting pro-Israel activities in the Middle East, notably in Yemen, since the onset of the conflict. Adjusted for inflation, this figure represents the largest amount of military assistance provided to the regime to date.