Full Breakdown
Pro-Netanyahu Protest Outside the United Nations: Arrests, Rallies and Political Fallout
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 24, 2026, a sit-in protest was staged on First Avenue near the United Nations headquarters as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to address the General Assembly. Demonstrators in white T-shirts printed with “Fund people not bombs,” “No war” and “Free Palestine” blocked traffic for more than an hour. NYPD officers warned the crowd to disperse; those who remained were handcuffed, zip-tied and taken to police buses. Among the roughly 200 participants were Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon, Emmy-winner Hannah Einbinder, Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier, and City Council members Chi Ossé and Alexa Avilés.
Background & Context
Netanyahu’s appearance came amid a three-year war in Gaza that has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians according to Gaza’s health ministry and has drawn an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for the Israeli leader. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani had campaigned on a promise to seek enforcement of the warrant, later saying he lacked legal authority to do so. The protest was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and allied groups to demand an end to U.S. military aid for Israel and to label Netanyahu a war criminal.
Data & Statistics
- Arrests: NYPD reported 103 people taken into custody; JVP and other organizers said more than 100; other outlets cited 104 arrests.
- Protesters: Organizers estimated 200 people in the sit-in; later reports noted 400 participants in a larger demonstration that day.
- UN walk-outs: Dozens of delegations left the General Assembly hall as Netanyahu began his speech.
- Casualties: Gaza death toll cited as over 73,000 (Hamas-run health ministry).
Official Statements & Responses
- Benjamin Netanyahu called the protest “phony,” labeled the mayor “antisemitic,” and defended Israel’s actions as self-defence.
Criticism & Opposition
- Beth Miller, political director of JVP Action, said New Yorkers “do not want war criminals and the architects of genocide coming to our city.”
- Chi Ossé condemned Netanyahu as a “demon” and called for accountability, while Avila Chevalier declared, “Benjamin Netanyahu belongs at The Hague; not in the streets of New York City.”
On-the-Ground Reports
Protesters sat on the pavement, chanting “Netanyahu, go to hell” and “Stop arming Israel.” Police deployed bicycle-mounted officers and the Strategic Response Group; zip-ties were used before protesters were loaded onto buses. Several high-profile participants, including Sarandon and Einbinder, were photographed in handcuffs. A life-size effigy of Netanyahu in prison stripes was burned.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Arrest counts differ: NYPD cites 103 arrests; JVP and some media report “more than 100” or 104.
- Delegate walk-outs are described as “dozens” by some outlets and “over 100” by others, with no precise tally.
- Casualty figures for Gaza vary across sources (73,000 vs 75,000 vs 73,922); the article uses the figure stated by the Gaza health ministry.
What’s Next
Netanyahu’s speech is scheduled for 2 p.m. on September 24, after which he will depart New York. Mayor Mamdani has indicated the city will continue to protect the right to protest while monitoring any further attempts to block traffic or disrupt public order. Advocacy groups plan additional rallies throughout the UN General Assembly week to keep pressure on U.S. policymakers regarding military aid to Israel.