Protests Erupt as Netanyahu Addresses UN: Rights Groups Cry Foul
Date: September 25, 2026
Police arrested around 100 protesters, including celebrities and politicians, outside the United Nations in New York on September 25, as demonstrators rallied against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his address to the UN General Assembly. Among those detained were Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon and New York City Council member Chi Osse.
The protest, organized by the advocacy group Jewish Voice for Peace, attracted about 200 individuals clad in white T-shirts with slogans such as “Fund people not bombs” and “Free Palestine.” Tensions escalated as protesters blocked traffic, and despite police orders to disperse, many remained seated, chanting, “Netanyahu go to hell.”
Protester Manijeh Moradian expressed her outrage, stating, “What’s being done to Gaza… is our responsibility to speak out against.” Meanwhile, inside the assembly hall, Netanyahu defended Israel’s actions amid a backdrop of rising international criticism, prompting multiple delegates to walk out in protest.
In a separate gathering, pro-Palestine activists assembled at the New York Public Library, calling for an end to Zionism and advocating for Palestinian freedom. Rabbi Yitzchok Deutsch highlighted Netanyahu’s exploitation of Jewish identity to justify his government’s actions, while another protester questioned the legitimacy of his UN appearance given an international arrest warrant.
The protests reflect ongoing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and bolster calls for accountability on the global stage.
