Police in New York City detained dozens of protesters on Monday during demonstrations calling for a halt to US arms sales to Israel and an end to Washington’s military support for its ally.
Those taking part included members of the antiwar group Jewish Voice for Peace, which said approximately 90 people were detained. Among them was Chelsea Manning, a former US Army soldier known for leaking documents to WikiLeaks.
The New York City Police Department confirmed that “multiple” arrests were made but did not disclose a specific figure.
Videos from the scene showed demonstrators gathering near the offices of Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
Protesters chanted slogans such as “stop the bombs,” “end the killings” and “free Palestine,” voicing opposition to US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Israeli military actions in Lebanon, and the presence of Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.
The protesters also chanted “let Gaza live,” “let Iran live” and “let Lebanon live.”
The United States and Israel carried out attacks on Iran on February 28, triggering retaliatory strikes by Tehran targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military bases. The escalation, along with Israeli operations in Lebanon, has resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread displacement.
The administration of Donald Trump has moved to tighten restrictions on protests, including efforts to deport foreign students, threats to withdraw funding from universities where demonstrations occurred, and measures to screen immigrants’ online activity. These actions have faced legal challenges.
New York City was a major centre of pro-Palestinian protests in 2024.
US military support for Israel has come under increasing scrutiny from rights groups during the war in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands, caused a severe hunger crisis, displaced nearly the entire population, and led to genocide allegations from scholars and a United Nations inquiry.
Israel says its actions are in self-defense following an October 2023 attack by Hamas-led militants that killed 1,200 people and resulted in more than 250 hostages being taken.
