Full Breakdown
UN Security Incident at Holocaust Remembrance Day Event
1/28/2026, 9:12:44 PM
Confrontation at the UN
On January 27, 2026, Julian Voloj, the grandson of Holocaust survivors, was barred from attending the United Nations Holocaust Remembrance Day event in New York City after he photographed a confrontation involving pro-Israel influencer Lizzy Savetsky and UN security personnel. The incident occurred when Savetsky attempted to enter the General Assembly Hall wearing a blazer adorned with a prominent Israeli flag. Security guards initially informed her that she could not enter with the jacket, leading to a heated exchange. After some negotiation, she was permitted entry upon removing the jacket.
Voloj, who was present as a private citizen rather than in a professional capacity, captured the incident on his phone. He reported that a security guard forcibly took his phone, accessed it using his face ID, and deleted the photos before escorting him out of the venue. Voloj expressed his outrage, stating, “Being a grandson of Holocaust survivors and then being so badly treated at the UN... I’m just beyond words.”
Background on the Event
The UN's Holocaust Remembrance Day was established in 2005 to honor the victims of the Holocaust. Voloj has attended this event nearly every year since 2007, making the experience particularly meaningful as a tribute to his grandmother, who survived a Nazi concentration camp. He noted that he had never witnessed anyone being targeted for wearing clothing featuring a national flag at the event before.
Savetsky, a controversial figure known for her pro-Israel stance and previous participation in the reality show "Real Housewives of New York," has been vocal about her experiences with antisemitism. Following the incident, she criticized the UN, asserting that it demonstrates a bias against Israel. She claimed that a UN staff member indicated that a Palestinian flag would not have faced the same scrutiny.
Official Responses and Criticism
The UN's visitor services guidelines prohibit public displays that disrupt the organization's activities, including clothing with national symbols. Critics, including Voloj, argue that this policy is selectively enforced, particularly against pro-Israel expressions. Voloj remarked on the perceived anti-Israel bias within the UN, suggesting that the current global climate emboldens such actions.
Savetsky did not provide further comments following the incident, and attempts to reach UN officials for clarification went unanswered. However, she later posed with an Israeli flag that another attendee, Stephanie Benshimol, claimed to have smuggled into the event.
Emotional Impact and Future Considerations
Voloj described the experience as deeply unsettling, invoking feelings of inherited trauma from his family's history during the Holocaust. He stated, “I felt like, really, the Gestapo was just kicking me out.” The incident has left him uncertain about attending future Holocaust Remembrance Day events at the UN, expressing that this experience has left a “bitter taste” in his mouth.
As the discourse surrounding Israel and the UN continues to evolve, this incident highlights ongoing tensions and differing perspectives on the treatment of pro-Israel sentiments within international forums.
