### Mass Arrests at New York Protest Against Israel's Actions in Gaza

On Monday, a large sit-in outside the New York Stock Exchange led to the arrest of around 200 demonstrators who were protesting against Israel's military actions in Gaza. The protestors, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, voiced their demands through chants such as "Let Gaza live!" and "Up up with liberation, down down with occupation!"

Beth Miller, the political director for Jewish Voice for Peace, explained the motivations behind the demonstration. "The reason we're here is to demand that the U.S. government stop sending bombs to Israel and stop profiting off of Israel's genocide against Palestinians in Gaza," she stated. Miller highlighted the connection between U.S. bomb supplies and the rising stock prices of weapons manufacturers on Wall Street.

While a handful of counterprotesters displayed Israeli flags and attempted to drown out the voices of the pro-Palestinian activists, none of those demonstrating were able to enter the stock exchange itself. However, at least 200 protestors penetrated a security fence on Broad Street and staged a sit-in, awaiting arrest.

The New York Stock Exchange declined to make any statements regarding the protest. According to the police, the arrested individuals were detained one by one, with their hands cuffed behind their backs using plastic ties before being led to police vans. Some protestors resisted, going limp and requiring three or four officers to carry them.

This protest came in the wake of the anniversary of Hamas' surprise attack on Israel on October 7. The conflict has since spurred retaliatory actions from Israel, not only in Gaza but extending to Lebanon and other areas. On the same day as the protest, an Israeli airstrike on an apartment building in northern Lebanon resulted in at least 21 casualties, as reported by the Lebanese Red Cross. There has been no immediate comment from the Israeli military regarding this incident.