Police made several arrests early Friday morning outside the Manhattan hotel where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is staying ahead of his scheduled address to the United Nations General Assembly.
Approximately two dozen demonstrators gathered near the hotel in the Lenox Hill neighborhood after midnight. The protest, while small, was vocal. Participants, waving Palestinian flags and carrying signs, chanted slogans and beat drums in the street. Videos from the scene showed police directing the group onto the sidewalk before making arrests. The demonstration was reported to be non-violent.
The protest occurred against a backdrop of shifting international diplomacy. In recent days, several prominent nations, including the United Kingdom, have formally recognized Palestine as an independent state. The UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated the move was intended to “revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution.”
Netanyahu has condemned these recognitions, labeling them a “reward for terrorism.” Canada, Australia, France, and Portugal have also recently made similar announcements.
The Israeli leader’s UN speech is anticipated to address Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza. The conflict, which escalated following an attack by Hamas on southern Israel in October 2023, has resulted in significant casualties in the Palestinian territory.
