More than 100 arrested as New Yorkers protest Netanyahu’s UN visit

Demonstrators blocked streets and marched towards the UN headquarters as Netanyahu addressed world leaders at UNGA.Published On 25 Sep 2026Multiple protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took place in New York as he addressed the United Nations General Assembly, with more than 100 people arrested as demonstrators demanded accountability over Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and an end to United States military support.“I’m born and raised in New York City, and it’s a total disrespect for Benjamin Netanyahu to be here,” Jose, a protest attendee who only gave his first name, told Al Jazeera. “He’s a war criminal, and we don’t tolerate that.”Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Israel’s Netanyahu set to address UN General Assemblylist 2 of 3Netanyahu at UNGA over the yearslist 3 of 3Benjamin Netanyahu attacks Israel’s enemies and allies in UN speechend of listMore than 400 people, including celebrities, organisers and politicians, joined an action near the UN earlier on Thursday, according to Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP). The sit-in blocked part of First Avenue ahead of Netanyahu’s UNGA address. The protest was led by JVP and NYC-Democratic Socialists of America.Protesters block a road outside UN headquarters during a Jewish Voice for Peace sit-in against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on September 24, 2026, in New York [Andres Kudacki/AP]“ 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,” Nas Issa, a member of the Palestinian Youth Movement and activist at the JVP demonstration, told Al Jazeera.Protesters sought to draw attention to New York’s own role in US support for Israel. A day earlier, NYC-DSA held a news conference at John F Kennedy international airport calling for an immediate halt to military and explosive cargo shipments through the airport and for greater transparency over previous shipments of military aid to Israel.