More Than 100 Arrested in Protests Against Netanyahu

Mass Arrests and Midtown Intersection Takeovers

Police took more than 100 individuals into custody as demonstrations unfolded across Midtown Manhattan while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to address the 81st General Assembly at United Nations Headquarters. The demonstrations brought together multiple advocacy groups holding banners with messages such as Stop Arming Israel and End the Genocide near the U.N. complex, according to international reporting.

A spokeswoman for the New York Police Department stated that officers responded to reports of an unscheduled demonstration where participants blocked an intersection. Community Affairs Bureau personnel issued warnings instructing demonstrators to disperse, advising participants that they should leave. When participants persisted in blocking traffic, officers detained those who failed to comply, though police did not immediately release a specific arrest count.

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Activists disputed the precise scale from their own vantage points. Jewish Voice for Peace asserted via social media that Over 400 people held a mass sit-in outside the UN demanding an end to the genocide and an end to US military funding to Israel. The organisation added on social media, We refuse to stand by while war criminals are given a platform to speak and while our government spends billions on war. Meanwhile, Ann Wright, a member of the Code Pink Board of Directors, observed the police response firsthand, stating that I think over 100 people are just getting arrested right now to show their disgust at Netanyahu being here and speaking before the UN.

High-Profile Figures and Local Leaders Detained

The demonstrations drew notable cultural and political figures into the police dragnet. Film star Susan Sarandon and Hacks actress Hannah Einbinder were among those detained by police officers. Footage captured Sarandon in handcuffs as she was led away from the demonstration. The protests also drew elected leadership into the enforcement actions. A sitting city councilman was taken into custody by the NYPD at First Avenue and East 39th Street, according to local reporting. Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly criticized Netanyahu and called him a war criminal, while encouraging New Yorkers to express themselves through peaceful demonstrations, though the Daily News reported that Mamdani said he would not personally join the protests. According to the same report, these remarks from the mayor follow his previous assertion that he would order the arrest of Netanyahu should the Israeli leader come into New York City.

Security Deployment and Contrast with Prior Years

According to local news reports, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that thousands of officers would be deployed to patrol the vicinity of the headquarters in anticipation of various anti-Netanyahu protests. The heavy police presence contrasted directly with the previous year’s General Assembly address in September 2025, where the NYPD reported there were no protest-related arrests at the U.N. itself, a contrast to the scene that unfolded outside the U.N. complex this year. The active street demonstrations unfolded alongside diplomatic friction inside the General Assembly hall. Numerous global envoys exited the room as Netanyahu started his address, during which he criticized both adversaries and allies who had opposed him in recent months, such as France and Britain, both of which have recently taken steps to recognize the state of Palestine. Beyond the security zone, Manhattan experienced widespread traffic disruptions as the New York City Department of Transportation identified September 21 to September 25 as 2026 Gridlock Alert Days for the U.N. General Assembly and warned of extensive Manhattan street closures and delays.

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