Dozens of diplomats leave the United Nations hall as Benjamin Netanyahu takes the floor. The Israeli prime minister responds from the podium: “If there are other moral cowards who have not yet left the chamber, please do so now.” It is the moment of greatest tension on Thursday 24 September at the UN General Assembly, while outside the Glass Palace the demonstrations against the Israeli leader lead to the arrest of Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon and other entertainment personalities.
Susan Sarandon arrested during anti-Netanyahu protests
Demonstrations take place in the streets around the United Nations headquarters. One of the initiatives, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, brings together around 250 people and leads to the arrest of several participants. Among them Susan Sarandon, the Democratic candidate for Congress Darializa Avila Chevalier and the city councilor Chi Osséo.
Cynthia Nixon, known for Sex and the City, and Hannah Einbinder, star of Hacks, are also arrested. Elliot Page also participates in the protest. These are not the only demonstrations organized in New York. Israeli citizens and Jews opposed to the Netanyahu government also gather in Union Square. Organizers are setting up symbolic ballot boxes ahead of the Israeli elections, scheduled for October 27.
Netanyahu at the UN, delegates leave the room: Gaza, Iran and Mamdani “anti-Semitic”
The protest also continues inside the Glass Palace. When Netanyahu reaches the podium, dozens of diplomatic representatives leave the room. Second Associated Pressthe Palestinian mission had invited the delegations to participate in the collective exit during the speech of the Israeli prime minister.
Delegates are seen walking out in protest as Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the podium to address the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. pic.twitter.com/XTkqjd4ku6
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) September 24, 2026
Netanyahu rejects accusations about Israel’s military conduct in Gaza, arguing that Israeli intervention prevented genocide rather than caused it. He also claims the decision to attack Iranian nuclear facilities and thanks Donald Trump for US support.
The prime minister also shows a pager, recalling the Israeli operation of September 2024 against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and defends the military operations conducted after the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023. There is no shortage of clashes with Zohran Mamdani, mayor of New York. Netanyahu accuses him of anti-Semitism and of spreading lies about Israel. Mamdani had defined the Israeli prime minister as a war criminal, calling for compliance with the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. The mayor later acknowledged that he did not have the authority to carry it out through the city police.
Abu Mazen speaks on video: the United States denied him a visa
Before Netanyahu, the president of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, known as Abu Mazen, spoke. He does so through a pre-recorded message from Ramallah: for the second consecutive year the United States has denied him a visa to personally participate in the General Assembly.
Washington motivates the measure by recalling the failure to respect commitments on Palestinian reforms and diplomatic initiatives against Israel. Abbas rejects the claims and argues that the ban conflicts with the United States’ obligations as a host country of the United Nations.
In his speech, the Palestinian president denounces the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the risk of further displacement of the population. Calls on the international community to intervene and reiterates support for a two-state solution. Abbas also confirms his intention to organize the first Palestinian legislative elections in twenty years on November 28. However, the vote remains surrounded by uncertainties regarding its actual implementation.