NEW YORK: Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon was among more than 100 people arrested during a protest outside the United Nations headquarters in New York on Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to address the UN General Assembly.
The demonstration was organised by Jewish Voice for Peace, with protesters calling for an end to US military support for Israel and demanding an end to the war in Gaza. Demonstrators carried banners reading “Stop Arming Israel” and “End the Genocide” and chanted slogans including “Let Gaza live.”
The protest drew hundreds of people, including Jewish, Palestinian, Iranian and Lebanese New Yorkers, as well as elected officials, political candidates and other public figures. Sarandon has previously been outspoken on the Israel-Palestine conflict and has participated in demonstrations supporting Palestinian rights. Her detention on Thursday brought renewed attention to the involvement of prominent US entertainers in protests over the Gaza war.
The demonstration took place as Netanyahu arrived at the UN for his address to the 81st General Assembly. His appearance prompted several protests across New York, while some UN delegates walked out of the chamber during his speech.
Netanyahu used his UN address to reject accusations that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza and sharply criticised his opponents, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Palestinian representatives and critics of Israel have continued to accuse the Israeli government of serious violations during the conflict, while Israeli officials reject those allegations.
The arrests came amid heightened security around the UN headquarters, where Netanyahu's appearance had drawn both supporters and opponents and caused significant traffic disruptions across parts of Manhattan.