Demonstrators blocked streets and marched towards the UN headquarters as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Multiple protests took place in New York, resulting in over 100 arrests as demonstrators demanded accountability regarding Israel's actions in Gaza and an end to U.S. military support.
Jose, a protest attendee, stated, "I’m born and raised in New York City, and it’s a total disrespect for Benjamin Netanyahu to be here. He’s a war criminal, and we don’t tolerate that."
According to Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), more than 400 people, including celebrities, organizers, and politicians, participated in a sit-in near the UN on Thursday, blocking part of First Avenue ahead of Netanyahu’s address. The protest was organized by JVP and the NYC Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
Nas Issa, a member of the Palestinian Youth Movement, remarked, "What we’re seeing this week is that Trump and Netanyahu are using the United Nations General Assembly as a bully pulpit to espouse their vision of the world, which is one ruled by brute force, by war crimes with impunity."
Protesters aimed to highlight New York's role in U.S. support for Israel. The day before, NYC-DSA held a news conference at John F. Kennedy International Airport, calling for an immediate halt to military shipments through the airport and for greater transparency regarding previous military aid to Israel.
The New York Police Department reported that 103 individuals were arrested for disorderly conduct, all of whom were released afterward. Among those detained were nine elected officials and candidates for office, including Darializa Avila Chevalier, the Democratic nominee for New York’s 13th congressional district. Avila Chevalier stated, "Benjamin Netanyahu belongs at The Hague; not in the streets of New York City, and certainly not addressing the United Nations General Assembly."
Jess Frankel Carrel, a JVP organizer, expressed her desire for U.S. funding to support communities at home rather than military actions in Gaza. "We don’t want our tax dollars spent bombing children. We want them to fund schools here," she said.
Later, thousands of protesters marched towards UN headquarters in a separate demonstration organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement and The People’s Forum. Taher Dahleh, an organizer, commented, "I think it’s clear why Benjamin Netanyahu only wanted to spend 10 hours in this city. This city will never be a safe haven for fugitives of international law or war criminals."
The demonstrations highlighted opposition to Netanyahu’s presence in New York while he defended his government's actions during his UNGA speech. Netanyahu rejected allegations of genocide in Gaza, labeling them the "greatest lie of the century" and asserting that Israel had taken measures to protect Palestinian civilians. He criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, accusing him of being "anti-Semitic" and spreading falsehoods about Israel, claiming that many Jews no longer feel safe in New York since Mamdani's election.
Mamdani responded by accusing Netanyahu of spreading "baseless lies meant to sanitise his genocide of Palestinians," adding that Netanyahu is subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant. Although Mamdani had pledged to have Netanyahu arrested if he visited New York, he later acknowledged he did not have the authority to do so.
For the protesters, Netanyahu’s visit was an opportunity to amplify their message and call on international leaders and the U.S. government to take action regarding Gaza. Dahleh stated, "The United Nations has given Israel deadline after deadline and still we haven’t seen any change. All of this complicity has to stop."