NEW YORK — A group of American Rabbis and rabbinical students organized a protest during a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, January 9, urging a ceasefire in Gaza. 

The group was also asking that President Biden’s administration stop vetoing various resolutions that would end the violence ensuing in Gaza. 

The rabbis entered the Security Council Chamber of the United Nations through a guided tour, according to reports. Upon entering the protesters recited prayers and called for a ceasefire.

Various U.S. Jewish groups were among the organizations that played a role in organizing the protests, including Rabbis for Ceasefire, Jewish Voice for Peace and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice. 

Reports on social media state that 36 rabbis were in attendance at the general assembly, protesting.

The U.N. has already demanded a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza as the death toll continues to increase. The resolutions in the Security Council have been vetoed by Washington, stating that that would give Hamas the chance “rebuild.”

According to Reuters, “more than three-quarters of the 193-member U.N. General Assembly backed a move to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire last month.”

During the U.N. meeting on Tuesday, the protesters held signs stating, “Biden: the world says ceasefire” along with “Biden stop vetoing peace.”

Photo: Rabbis 4 Ceasefire Instagram

Security personnel escorted the group out after recording their names.

Sophie Ellman-Golan, communications director for Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, told the HuffPost that the aim of the protests was to push the United States to action and call for a ceasefire, not a shove at the United Nations.