NYPD arrests celebrities at Netanyahu UN protest as walkout occurs

New York City police arrested several celebrities and activists outside the United Nations on Tuesday during demonstrations against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to the General Assembly. The detentions included actress Susan Sarandon, who was among those taken into custody as protests escalated near the UN headquarters in Manhattan.

The arrests occurred as multiple country delegations staged walkouts during Netanyahu's speech, marking a significant diplomatic rebuke. Human rights organizations had called on the UN to prevent Netanyahu from addressing the body, with some groups characterizing his appearance as a platform for what they described as a war criminal to speak.

The demonstrations reflected growing international tensions over Israel's military operations and policies. Protesters assembled outside the UN complex carrying placards and chanting slogans, drawing a substantial police response that resulted in multiple arrests throughout the day.

The incident underscored divisions within the international community regarding Israeli leadership and military conduct. The combination of high-profile arrests and coordinated diplomatic walkouts signaled broad opposition to Netanyahu's presence at the assembly, with civil society groups and select nations using the occasion to register formal protest.

UN officials did not immediately comment on the security arrangements or the delegations' decisions to withdraw from the speech.