Hundreds Arrested as Protesters Confront Netanyahu at UN Headquarters

Democratic US House candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier was among those taken into police custody, declaring that the city could not allow an alleged war criminal to move through its streets unimpeded. The demonstration drew a diverse coalition of activists, including state politicians like Brad Lander and Utah state Sen. Nate Blouin, alongside high-profile figures such as Susan Sarandon, Cynthia Nixon, and Tony Kushner. Participants wore shirts demanding to fund people rather than bombs, echoing wider public fatigue with the $17.9 billion in military aid provided to Israel since the onset of the Gaza campaign.

The unrest follows an earlier, tense session at the United Nations where several delegations walked out during Netanyahu’s address. The Prime Minister dismissed these officials as moral cowards, maintaining his defense despite an International Criminal Court warrant issued in November 2024 for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. While Netanyahu has frequently labeled criticism of his administration as antisemitic, organizers highlighted that the protest was heavily composed of Jewish New Yorkers, including descendants of Holocaust survivors, who argue that the military actions in Gaza and the West Bank constitute a systemic assault on human rights. With over 73,000 Palestinians dead and reports of starvation used as a strategic weapon, activists emphasized their intent to remain relentless in their push to end US complicity in the conflict.