Police arrest at least 30 at protest outside UN ahead of Netanyahu speech

New York City, United States. Police arrested at least 30 people, including actors and politicians, on Thursday during a protest outside United Nations headquarters against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of his General Assembly speech. Around 200 people gathered at the rally organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, a Jewish activist group that supports Palestinians.

Protesters block traffic

Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon, Emmy winner Hannah Einbinder, Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier and New York City council member Chi Osse were among those arrested.

Protesters wore identical white T-shirts bearing the slogans “Fund people not bombs,” “No war” and “Free Palestine.” The group blocked traffic, and police ordered people to leave through loudspeakers. Some moved to the sidewalks, but a core group remained seated on the pavement, chanting anti-Netanyahu slogans as officers arrived on bicycles and surrounded them.

Officers pulled protesters from the group one by one, tied their hands behind their backs with zip ties and escorted them to police buses. Activists continued chanting “Netanyahu go to hell” outside the buses.

“What’s being done to Gaza, the obliteration of an entire society, in our name, with our tax dollars, this is our responsibility to speak out against, and Netanyahu has no right to use the platform of the United Nations to justify these atrocities,” said Manijeh Moradian, a 50-year-old university professor of Iranian and Jewish heritage who took part in the protest.

General Assembly address

At the General Assembly, Netanyahu defended Israel’s actions in the region as he sought to counter growing international isolation ahead of elections he could lose. Dozens of delegates streamed out of the General Assembly Hall during his address.