More than 100 arrests at NYC demonstrations as Netanyahu appeared at U.N. General Assembly

The NYPD took more than 100 people into custody Thursday at demonstrations near the United Nations as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to address the General Assembly.

Both inside and outside the building, there were denouncements, demonstrations, and also some support for Netanyahu’s appearance in New York City.

Inside the U.N., as Netanyahu started his speech, many delegations walked out, while others stood to applaud.

“If there are any other moral cowards who haven’t yet left this hall, please do so now,” Netanyahu said.

He discussed defending Israel, taking on Iran and Hezbollah, and also called out New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, saying, “Jews no longer feel safe in New York.”

Outside the United Nations, dueling protests filled the streets. Celebrities and lawmakers were among those detained.

A total of 104 people were arrested in the demonstrations, the NYPD said Friday morning. All received criminal summonses and will appear in court at a later date.

Most of the demonstrations ended before Netanyahu even started speaking around 2 p.m.

While some people came out to show their support for Netanyahu, most of the protesters held the same message – they do not welcome him in New York City.

Hundreds of people filled the streets of Manhattan’s East Side to protest. Protesters shut down traffic on First Avenue with a sit-in. They wore shirts that read “Fund people not bombs.”

“I am an observant Jew who believes everything Netanyahu and his government stands for is against every value of Judaism,” said demonstrator Stefan Krieger.

“It really hurts me, because my parents’ generation comes from Europe, lost families there, came to Israel, built with their own hands a new country. It really was unbelievable in 70 years what the country became, with Netanyahu and his government, his right-wing coalition, destroyed everything,” Adina Eisenberg said.

Actors and lawmakers among the arrests

Actors Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder were among those taken into custody, along with City Councilman Chi Ossé and New York congressional candidate Darializa Chevalier. Actress Cynthia Nixon and other City Council members were there alongside protesters, holding up signs and chanting “End the bombs. End the killing.”

Police sources said activist Chelsea Manning, comedian Caleb Hearon and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher were also arrested.

“The message is that Netanyahu is not welcome in our city. He is a war criminal. He has an [International Criminal Court] arrest warrant after his arrest for crimes against humanity, for his role in orchestrating the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza,” said Nas Issa of the Palestinian Youth Movement.

“Every single human being of conscience who wants to end these atrocities and apartheid and genocide must stand up against Benjamin Netanyahu, a war criminal in the eyes of the International Criminal Court,” activist Gustav Kerndt said.

Welcoming Netanyahu

Outside the U.N., some gathered to greet Netanyahu. Sophie Sassoon said she was there to counter the protesters’ message.

“When do you hear people, a whole country, over a prime minister? It is normal to disagree with a prime minister, but the voice we’re hearing aren’t just disagreeing with the prime minister. They have an issue with the only Jewish state in the world, and I have an issue with that,” Sassoon said.

“We’re here to counter the protesters that call us a terrorist state, when Israel has been on the front line of terrorism for the last seven decades. And we’re here to say just because voices are loud doesn’t mean we capitulate and don’t exist because terrorists think they can overcome us,” she added.

Demonstrations escalate

The opposing demonstrations turned heated at times, with some arguments escalating into fistfights.

“If you’re talking about Jewish New Yorkers, there’s a multiplicity of views on this topic, and yet so many people seem to think all Jews are in lockstep in support of what Bibi stands for, and what he’s having the Israeli state do,” Rabbi Emily Cohen said. “We are in such silos, and right now what I think can be most helpful is if we can see that divine reflection in one another. So we can disagree, disagreement is fine, but also find places to connect and find the humanity in one another.”

There have been protests all week during the assembly.

Israel’s National Public Diplomacy Directorate launched a campaign in the city with 500 billboards, trucks and advertisements exclaiming the threat posed by Iran. The messages could be seen on signs in Times Square and throughout Manhattan.