PROTESTERS ARRESTED IN NEW YORK DURING NETANYAHU UN VISIT

Police made dozens of arrests in New York City on Thursday as protesters demonstrated against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's appearance at the United Nations General Assembly, according to one report, while another put the number of arrests at more than 100. A sit-in organised by Jewish Voice for Peace and the Palestinian Youth Movement blocked a road near the UN headquarters, with police ordering demonstrators to clear the street before making arrests. Actors Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder and activist Chelsea Manning were among those detained. Several elected officials and political candidates were also arrested, including New York City Council members Alexa Avilés, Linda Sarsour, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Chi Ossé and Darializa Avila-Chevalier, along with state senate candidate Aber Kawas. Handcuffed and escorted by a New York Police Department officer, Einbinder was filmed saying: "Netanyahu out of New York, no bombs on Lebanon, no bombs on Iran, stop the genocide."

Jewish Voice for Peace said more than 400 people, including celebrities, organisers and politicians, joined the action near the UN before the sit-in, amid protests that drew thousands across the city. Demonstrators from Jewish Voice for Peace and NYC-Democratic Socialists of America wore shirts reading "Fund people, not bombs" and called for an end to US military support for Israel, accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. Kawas said she was "proud to be out in protest, to even face arrest" and said more elected officials needed to speak out over Netanyahu's presence in the city. A protester who gave only his first name, Jose, said it was "a total disrespect" for Netanyahu to be in New York and called him a "war criminal". Nas Issa of the Palestinian Youth Movement said Trump and Netanyahu were using the General Assembly "as a bully pulpit" to promote a vision of the world "ruled by brute force". A day earlier, NYC-Democratic Socialists of America held a news conference at John F Kennedy International Airport calling for a halt to military and explosive cargo shipments to Israel passing through the airport.

The International Criminal Court, based in The Hague, issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024, with charges including using starvation as a weapon of war, murder, persecution and directing attacks against civilians dating from at least 8 October 2023. Organisers said the protests were intended to highlight New York's role in US military support for Israel, including cargo shipments passing through the airport. NYC-Democratic Socialists of America called for greater transparency over previous shipments of military aid to Israel. Police cleared the blocked road near the UN headquarters after completing the arrests. Thursday's demonstrations came as Netanyahu addressed the General Assembly amid continuing protests over Israel's military campaign in Gaza.