SRINAGAR: At least 30 people, including actors and politicians, were arrested on Thursday during a protest outside the United Nations headquarters in New York against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hours before he addressed the UN General Assembly.
According to Reuters, Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon, Emmy Award winner Hannah Einbinder, Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier and New York City Council member Chi Osse were among those detained.
The demonstration was organised by Jewish Voice for Peace, a Jewish activist group that supports Palestinians. About 200 people took part, wearing identical white T-shirts bearing slogans including “Fund people not bombs”, “No war” and “Free Palestine”.
The protesters blocked traffic outside the UN headquarters, prompting police to instruct them through loudspeakers to leave the area. While some moved to the pavements, a group remained seated on the road and continued chanting slogans directed at Netanyahu.
Police officers arriving on bicycles surrounded the protesters before making arrests. Officers removed demonstrators individually, restrained their hands with zip ties and escorted them to police buses. Protesters continued chanting “Netanyahu go to hell” as the arrests proceeded.
Manijeh Moradian, a 50-year-old university professor of Iranian and Jewish heritage who participated in the demonstration, said protesters had a responsibility to speak out against Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
“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,” Moradian said, adding that Netanyahu had no right to use the UN platform to justify what she described as atrocities.
Netanyahu addressed the General Assembly later in the day, defending Israel’s military operations in Gaza and against Iran and other regional adversaries. Dozens of delegates walked out of the chamber as he began his speech.
The Israeli prime minister also praised US President Donald Trump for his support, as Israel faced growing international criticism over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and its military campaign across the region.
The arrests outside the UN and the walkout inside the General Assembly highlighted the divisions surrounding Netanyahu’s appearance before the world body.
