Over 100 people were arrested outside the United Nations’ headquarters in New York City, where they took part in a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Among them were several LGBTQ+ celebrities, such as Hacks actor Hannah Einbinder, Oscar winner Susan Sarandon and comedian Caleb Hearon.

Coinciding with Netanyahu’s address at the UN General Assembly, the protest was organised by Jewish Voice for Peace, a group of activists who support Palestine. Around 200 people gathered outside the UN headquarters wearing T-shirts that read “Fund people ​not bombs,” “No war” ⁠and “Free Palestine.”

Among them were high-profile celebrities such as Susan Sarandon, Hannah Einbinder, Debra Winger, Elliot Page, Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker, Caleb Hearon, Mary Beth Barone, and Chelsea Manning. Protesters sat in the intersection at First Avenue and 39th Street, blocking the streets for over an hour.

Police warned protesters to disperse, but around 100 of them stayed, including several politicians such as congressional candidates Darializa Avila Chevalier and Adam Hamawy, and City Council Members Jennifer Gutiérrez and Chi Ossé. A few hours after the rally, a few thousand people marched from nearby Bryant Park to the UN to protest the presence of Netanyahu in the city.

More than 100 people who took part in the rally were detained by the NYPD, though they did not appear to resist arrest. A video posted on social media shows actor Hannah Einbinder being escorted away by police with her hands cuffed behind her back.

 

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Ahead of the protest, the actor shared: “We will not be silent as our government fully funds a genocide in Palestine. This moment calls on each and every one of us to speak out and demand the US stop funding genocide.”

Inside the UN headquarters, dozens of envoys from across the world walked out of the room as Netanyahu walked to the rostrum for his speech. The majority of seats were left empty as the Israeli Prime Minister addressed the General Assembly.

Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin also spoke to the assembly, saying that the international community has “failed Palestine”. He also stated that last year’s peace plan for Gaza has not “changed the reality on the ground”.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gave pre-recorded remarks to be played at the UN General Assembly, given that the US denied him and other top Palestinian officials visas to attend the event. In his speech, Abbas said, “We will not leave our homeland. We will not accept displacement. And we will not allow anyone to decide our future on our behalf.”

Over 73,922 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its genocidal assault on Gaza in October 2023. While a ceasefire was agreed to last October, people are still being killed in Gaza and the West Bank. Israel also maintains control of most of the areas, continuing airstrikes against Palestinians.