Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder Among About 100 Arrested at Anti-Netanyahu Protest in New York

On September 24, police in New York arrested dozens of people—reports range from at least 30 to around 100—during a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside United Nations headquarters. Among those detained were prominent figures from entertainment and politics: Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon, known for films such as "Thelma & Louise," and Emmy-winning actress Hannah Einbinder, recognized for her role in the series "Hacks." Also arrested were Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier and New York City Council member Chi Osse. The arrests took place while Netanyahu was delivering his address to the UN General Assembly, drawing international attention due to the prominence of those involved.

According to multiple reports, the rally was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, a Jewish activist group that has long advocated for Palestinian rights and opposed Israeli policy during the war in Gaza. Demonstrators gathered outside the UN headquarters in New York holding banners reading "Stop Arming Israel" and "End the Genocide." They staged a sit-in, blocking a street near the building to protest continued U.S. arms supplies to Israel. Ending this military support was the central demand of the demonstration.

Footage captured by the news agency AFP documented the New York Police Department's response. The images show officers leading Susan Sarandon away in handcuffs. According to the New York Post, cited by several international outlets, Hannah Einbinder was also marched away from the demonstration. Police moved to break up the gathering after protesters blocked the roadway with their sit-in.

Reports differ on the exact number of people arrested. Reuters and several outlets citing the agency put the figure at a minimum of 30. Other sources, including the South China Morning Post and Al Jazeera, reported approximately 100 arrests. This discrepancy cannot be fully resolved based on the available reporting; it may reflect different points in time during the police operation or varying methods of counting used by different sources.

The protest outside the UN is part of a growing wave of international demonstrations against Israeli policy in connection with the war in Gaza. Netanyahu delivered his address to the General Assembly despite the protests outside the building; one Indian outlet described his speech as "defiant." The available reports do not provide detailed information about the content of his remarks.

Media coverage of the incident varies by region in its emphasis. Outlets with ties to the Middle East, such as Al Jazeera and Middle East Eye, emphasize the prominence of those arrested and the timing relative to Netanyahu's speech. Asian outlets like the South China Morning Post and the Straits Times report relatively briefly and factually, closely following wire reports from Western agencies such as AFP and Reuters. Media from the Global South, including India's NDTV, highlight the specific protest slogans and frame the action as part of a broader global movement. Western outlets such as The Guardian, Der Spiegel, and Canada's Globe and Mail explicitly name Jewish Voice for Peace as the organizer and provide detailed accounts of the circumstances surrounding the arrests, including the sit-in and the handcuffing of Sarandon.

Across the various reports, core facts remain largely consistent: the involvement of Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder, the demand to end U.S. arms shipments to Israel, and the organization of the rally by Jewish Voice for Peace. None of the available reports include information on how the Israeli government or Netanyahu himself responded to the protests. Likewise, there is currently no information about potential legal consequences for those arrested, including whether charges were filed or whether those detained have since been released.

The incident reflects the ongoing polarization surrounding the war in Gaza, which continues to manifest in public protest actions in major Western cities such as New York. The involvement of well-known figures from film and politics likely contributed to the heightened media attention the event received, regardless of the exact number of arrests or the unresolved questions about possible legal outcomes for those detained.