Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder arrested at anti-Netanyahu protest in New York

What Happened

On Thursday, New York Police Department officers detained actors Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder at an unscheduled demonstration in New York City organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to address the UN General Assembly. AFP footage showed NYPD officers handcuffing Sarandon; The New York Post reported that Einbinder was also marched away. An NYPD spokesperson said officers responded to reports of an 'unscheduled demonstration' where people were blocking an intersection, issued warnings, and then took multiple individuals into custody without providing an arrest total. New York City council member Chi Ossé and Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier were also among those arrested, according to the article. Protesters held banners reading 'Stop Arming Israel' and 'End the Genocide.' Inside the General Assembly, dozens of envoys walked out as Netanyahu began a speech in which he assailed Britain and France over their recent moves to recognize Palestinian statehood.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The arrests at a high-profile protest against Netanyahu during the UN General Assembly underline the intensity of US domestic opposition to Israel's Gaza military campaign, extending beyond activists to prominent entertainment figures and local elected officials. The simultaneous walkout by dozens of envoys inside the assembly, combined with Netanyahu's criticism of Britain and France over Palestinian statehood recognition, reflects widening international friction over the war and growing pressure on Israel from both grassroots movements and state actors.

Watch For

Monitor whether charges are filed against those arrested in New York and whether further protests occur during Netanyahu's remaining US schedule or UNGA session. Watch for reactions from Israeli officials, the White House, and the UN, as well as any follow-up statements by the actors and organizers. The status of Palestinian statehood recognition by Britain and France and Israel's diplomatic response may develop in parallel.