In a wave of demonstrations across universities in the United States, hundreds of students have been arrested as they continue to demand a ceasefire in Gaza and divestment from companies supporting Israel's ongoing conflict with the Palestinian enclave. Police presence was amplified on college campuses on Saturday, resulting in clashes between authorities and protesters. Chemical irritants and Tasers were reportedly used by some officers to disperse the students.

In Boston, approximately 100 individuals were detained by police while clearing a protest camp at Northeastern University. Social media posts showed security forces in riot gear and officers removing tents from the site. Northeastern University issued a statement, asserting that the protests were infiltrated by outside organizers unrelated to the university. The school mentioned that detained individuals with valid school IDs were released but could face disciplinary proceedings.

Northeastern University also claimed that provocative chants, including "Kill the Jews," were heard at the protests, providing justification for the security forces' actions. However, members of the pro-Palestinian protest movement at the university refuted these allegations, pointing to videos showing individuals holding Israeli flags using the slur to antagonize pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

Similar arrests were reported at Indiana University and Arizona State University, where protesters established "unauthorized encampments" on campus. In Bloomington, the Indiana University Police Department arrested 23 individuals while clearing a protest camp. Meanwhile, the Arizona State University Police Department arrested 69 individuals for trespassing after repeated orders to disperse went unheeded.

The demonstrations have not been limited to arrests alone, as universities across the country have faced ongoing protests, with video evidence showing forceful arrests of faculty members and students. The protesters have been demanding amnesty for those disciplined or fired for participating in the protests. Instances of punishment, including suspensions, probations, and expulsions, have occurred at various universities, such as Yale University, the University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Minnesota.

The clashes and protests have led to disruptions in university activities, including the cancellation of graduation ceremonies and occupation of buildings by protesters. Al Jazeera's John Hendren reported from Princeton University, emphasizing the risks students face when participating in protests that may violate university rules, potentially resulting in expulsion. However, student activists have shown passion and resolve in their pursuit of justice, demonstrating a belief in the power of numbers to bring about change.

The escalating tensions have also seen threats and doxing targeting the protesting students. Students have voiced concerns about the lack of protection from their respective institutions. Momodou Taal, one of the students temporarily suspended from Cornell University for setting up an encampment, expressed disappointment in the administration's failure to create a safe environment for Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, and students of color.

Organizers of the protests at Emory University in Atlanta listed three demands: transparency in financial investments, divestment from Israeli companies, and continued amnesty and protection for those unjustly arrested. These demands reflect the widespread sentiment among the demonstrators across universities in the US.

Moreover, the pro-Palestine protests have extended beyond US borders, as college demonstrations against the "genocide" in Gaza have taken place in Canada, Europe, and Australia. At McGill University in Montreal, Canada, the first campus protest camp for Gaza was established, with demands for divestment and the severing of ties with Zionist academic institutions.

As tensions rise and the pro-Palestine movement gains momentum, it remains to be seen how universities and authorities will address the demands of the protesting students while balancing issues surrounding free speech and the security of their campuses.