New York law enforcement arrested more than 100 people on September 24, 2026, during demonstrations against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit and his address to the United Nations General Assembly.
The New York Police Department said 103 individuals were taken into custody for disorderly conduct and later released.
Rallies across the city targeted Israel's military campaign in Gaza and called for an immediate halt to United States military assistance.
A morning sit-in organized by Jewish Voice for Peace and the NYC-Democratic Socialists of America temporarily blocked traffic near UN headquarters.
Protesters also pointed to local connections to federal aid, following a demonstration at John F. Kennedy International Airport that demanded an end to military cargo shipments.
Organizers confirmed that nine public officials and political candidates were among those detained during the civil disobedience actions.
Jose, a local resident who attended the demonstration, voiced frustration over the Israeli leader's presence in the city.
"I'm born and raised in New York City, and it's a total disrespect for Benjamin Netanyahu to be here," Jose said.
"He's a war criminal, and we don't tolerate that."
Activists argued that international institutions were being used to legitimize aggressive foreign policies.
"What we're seeing this week is that Trump and Netanyahu are using the United Nations General Assembly as a bully pulpit to espouse their vision of the world, which is one ruled by brute force, by war crimes with impunity," said Nas Issa, a Palestinian Youth Movement member.
Among those arrested was Darializa Avila Chevalier, the Democratic nominee for New York's 13th congressional district.
"Benjamin Netanyahu belongs at The Hague; not in the streets of New York City, and certainly not addressing the United Nations General Assembly," Avila Chevalier said.
Demonstrators called for federal funds to be redirected toward local public needs rather than overseas military operations.
"We don't want our tax dollars spent bombing children. We want them to fund schools here," said JVP organizer Jess Frankel Carrel.
"Many of my comrades were arrested, and we will stay here. We will stay fighting until the genocide is over."
A larger march organized by The People's Forum and the Palestinian Youth Movement proceeded toward the UN building later in the day.
"I think it's clear why Benjamin Netanyahu only wanted to spend 10 hours in this city," said Taher Dahleh, a Palestinian Youth Movement organizer.
"This city will never be a safe haven for fugitives of international law or war criminals."
Organizers expressed frustration over the lack of diplomatic progress despite previous international warnings.
"The United Nations has given Israel deadline after deadline and given Israel countless times, and still we haven't seen any change," Dahleh said.
"All of this complicity has to stop."
Speaking before the UN General Assembly, Netanyahu rejected accusations of genocide in Gaza and defended his administration's actions.
Netanyahu called the genocide allegations the "greatest lie of the century" and asserted that steps were taken to protect civilians.
Netanyahu also directed criticism at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during his speech.
Netanyahu labeled the mayor "anti-Semitic" and claimed his leadership had made the city unsafe for Jewish residents.
Mayor Mamdani dismissed the claims, noting that the Israeli leader remains subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.
Mamdani accused Netanyahu of repeating "baseless lies meant to sanitise his genocide of Palestinians."
Mamdani had previously campaigned on a pledge to arrest Netanyahu if he entered New York, though the mayor later conceded he lacked the legal authority to execute such an arrest.
