Protests surge in NY against Netanyahu's UN assembly address

Demonstrators gathered outside the United Nations Headquarters to demand accountability for Israel's military actions in Gaza and call for an immediate end to US military assistance to Israel.

According to Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), more than 400 people participated in a major rally near the UN premises, blocking traffic along a section of First Avenue. The protest was jointly led by JVP and the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (NYC-DSA).

Local residents and advocacy groups voiced strong opposition to Netanyahu’s presence in the city, labeling him a war criminal and protesting the role of US funding in the ongoing Middle East conflict.

"US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu are using the UN General Assembly to project a worldview governed by military power and force," said Nas Issa, a member of the Palestinian Youth Movement who joined the rally.

The demonstrations followed a press conference held a day earlier by NYC-DSA at John F. Kennedy International Airport, where activists demanded an immediate halt to shipments of military equipment and explosives bound for Israel, alongside greater transparency regarding past arms transfers.