Category: Celebs

High-Profile Detentions Amid Tense UN General Assembly Protests

New York City police detained approximately 100 demonstrators outside the United Nations Headquarters on Thursday, September 24, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered his address to the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. Among those taken into custody were Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon and Hacks star Hannah Einbinder, who had joined a coalition protesting Netanyahu’s appearance alongside actor Elliot Page and whistleblower Chelsea Manning.

The protest, which drew a mix of celebrities, activists, and elected officials, unfolded against a backdrop of escalating conflict in the Middle East. Sarandon, a longtime vocal critic of Israeli military operations in Gaza, wore a t-shirt reading “fund people not bombs.” Also present at the demonstration were New York City Council members Chi Osse and Jen Gutierrez, NY-13 congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier, and comedian Caleb Hearon, all of whom were photographed interacting with NYPD officers at the scene.

Netanyahu’s Speech Provokes Walkout and Sharp Rhetoric

Inside the General Assembly hall, the atmosphere was equally charged. As Netanyahu approached the rostrum to speak during the afternoon session, a mix of cheers, boos, and a coordinated mass walkout erupted. Scores of delegates exited the chamber in protest, leaving a majority of seats empty for the remainder of the Israeli leader’s remarks.

Netanyahu’s speech defended Israel’s military operations across the Middle East, but his time at the podium was repeatedly disrupted by chants in support of Palestine. Addressing the departing delegates directly, Netanyahu declared:

“In defending itself, Israel is also defending many of the countries whose delegates just left this hall. If there are any other moral cowards who have not yet left the hall, please do so now.”

He continued with a pointed accusation toward the nations whose representatives had walked out:

“Now, you want to hear the ultimate irony? Many of the countries whose delegates just left this hall. In fact, I want you to know that many of their leaders even thank us privately for taking out Iran’s nukes. It’s hard to imagine more mind-blowing hypocrisy.”

Palestinian Mission Called for Coordinated Diplomatic Protest

The walkout was not spontaneous. Prior to the session, the Palestinian Mission to the UN had circulated a message to many of the 193 member nations urging them to bring as many staff as possible to the assembly hall and “collectively walk out of the assembly” once Netanyahu was announced. The message framed the action as a necessary moral stance:

“This will send a clear message to Netanyahu and his government that no one is willing to aid, abet, or be complicit in its genocide and war crimes and illegal occupation, which all peace-loving states and peoples demand must come to an end.”

Israel categorically rejects allegations of genocide, war crimes, and illegal occupation. While the International Court of Justice and numerous UN bodies have found Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory to be illegal under international law, the Israeli government maintains they are legal.

Why This Matters

The convergence of high-profile celebrity arrests, a coordinated diplomatic walkout, and incendiary rhetoric from a head of state at the UN General Assembly underscores the deepening international polarization over the Gaza conflict and broader regional hostilities. The detention of Sarandon and Einbinder—both prominent cultural figures with large platforms—amplifies global attention on the growing protest movement against Israeli military policy. Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s claim that unnamed world leaders privately thank Israel for strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, if substantiated, would reveal a stark disconnect between public diplomatic posturing and private strategic alignments. The Palestinian Mission’s successful mobilization of a mass walkout signals growing diplomatic coordination among member states willing to use procedural tools to isolate Israel at the UN. As the General Assembly continues, the fissures on display Thursday are likely to shape debate on resolutions concerning Gaza, Lebanon, and the broader question of accountability under international law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was detained during the protests outside the UN on September 24?

Approximately 100 protesters were detained by NYPD, including actress Susan Sarandon, comedian Hannah Einbinder, actor Elliot Page, whistleblower Chelsea Manning, NYC Council members Chi Osse and Jen Gutierrez, congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier, and comedian Caleb Hearon.

What prompted the mass walkout during Netanyahu’s UN speech?

The Palestinian Mission to the UN had urged member states to collectively walk out when Netanyahu took the podium, protesting what it described as Israel’s “genocide and war crimes and illegal occupation.” Scores of delegates exited the hall in a coordinated action.

What did Netanyahu say about the delegates who walked out?

Netanyahu called them “moral cowards” and claimed that “many of their leaders even thank us privately for taking out Iran’s nukes,” calling it “mind-blowing hypocrisy.”