Dozens of pro-Palestine protesters have been arrested and detained in the United States after riot police stormed and recaptured the Hamilton Hall building at the Columbia University campus earlier hijacked by demonstrators on Tuesday.

Columbia University had earlier issued a Monday ultimatum for the protesters to leave the campus or face suspension from the institution. But in a defiant move, the protesters went ahead and took over the Hamilton Hall on Tuesday.

The protesters barricaded themselves inside the building while hoisting Palestine flags across windows of the hall, named after Alexander Hamilton — one of the founding fathers of the United States and a product of Columbia.

After several days of hesitation, Columbia officials finally grant the New York Police Department the permission to enter the campus and disperse protesters, who have “barricaded and vandalised” the building

Many riot police stormed the campus on Tuesday, forcibly removing and arresting dozens of protesters using tear gas — they successfully cleared out the hall and also removed the encampments setup on campus since the protest began.

The New York Times reported that at least 30 police officers mounted the Pulitzer Hall while others were removing banners from the facade of Hamilton Hall — the hall was renamed the Hindi’s Hall by the protesters, in honour of six-year-old Hind Rajab, who they claimed was murdered by the ‘Israeli state.’

Meanwhile, NYPD officers will maintain their presence on the campus until at least May 17. The action is deemed necessary to prevent further protests in the school which has disrupted academic activities.