Empty hall, full streets: Protesters demand Netanyahu’s arrest as UN address falters

09/29/2025 / By Patrick Lewis

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a nearly empty UN General Assembly hall on Friday, while thousands of protesters in New York rallied to demand his arrest under an ICC warrant.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza; ICC member states are legally obliged to enforce it, though Hungary has moved to withdraw.
Netanyahu’s UN address rejected a Palestinian state and dismissed allegations of genocide in Gaza as “a joke,” prompting dozens of diplomats and leaders to walk out—even as U.S. diplomats reportedly applauded.
Outside the UN, protesters organized by groups like the Palestinian Youth Movement and American Muslims for Palestine marched from Times Square to Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, with late supporters including Gustavo Petro and Roger Waters.
Protesters voiced moral outrage over civilian suffering in Gaza, criticized U.S. leaders for publicly supporting Netanyahu, and called for him to face trial in The Hague.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, Sept 26, addressed a nearly empty United Nations General Assembly hall, while thousands rallied in Times Square to condemn his visit and demand he be arrested under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.

Netanyahu was issued an arrest warrant by the ICC in November 2024 for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza since October 2023. All ICC member states, including the United States, are legally obliged to enforce such warrants, though Hungary—a staunch Israeli ally—has formally initiated a withdrawal process from the court. (Related: Netanyahu takes unusual flight path to avoid war crimes arrest.)

Inside the assembly, Netanyahu delivered a combative speech rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state and dismissing claims that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza as “a joke.” Dozens of diplomats and world leaders walked out in protest as he spoke, though officials in the U.S. diplomatic mission reportedly applauded.

Outside the UN headquarters, demonstrations were organized by groups such as the Palestinian Youth Movement and American Muslims for Palestine marched from Times Square toward Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza. Late in the protest, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and musician Roger Waters joined in solidarity.

Voices from the streets: Outrage and calls for accountability

Protesters told Middle East Eye that their presence was driven by outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and indignation at U.S. officials who publicly flanked Netanyahu. One speaker, Dr. Jane Anders of Doctors Against Genocide, accused U.S. senators of aligning themselves with “this man [who] annihilate[s] children,” citing graphic images from Gaza.

Another DAG member, Dr. Fatima, insisted that Netanyahu “doesn’t belong in New York—he belongs in The Hague.” Many in the crowd were Jewish and openly critical of Netanyahu’s claims to act on behalf of all Jews. One protester wearing a “Not in our name” shirt said she was tired of seeing her identity exploited to justify state violence. A rabbi representing Orthodox communities warned that Netanyahu endangered both Palestinians and Jewish people by conflating Judaism with Zionism.

Puerto Rican activist David Galaraza spoke of colonial solidarity, saying his own people’s history motivated his support for Palestine, and he praised local politicians who had pledged to act—notably New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who has vowed to arrest Netanyahu if elected.

Some protesters also referenced past allegations regarding Netanyahu’s New York visits. They recalled that during a September visit last year, he purportedly approved strikes in Lebanon from a Manhattan hotel—strikes that were reported to have killed dozens and injured thousands.

As the march ended near Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, chants echoed calls for accountability. “It’s disgusting that he can step foot in New York and not get arrested,” one marcher said. “All nations in the world must make sure that they put the cuffs on him. Throw him in jail for eternity.”

Netanyahu’s visit and UN address thus became a flashpoint of global controversy—a clash of diplomacy, activism and legal accountability playing out on the streets of New York and within the solemn halls of the United Nations.

As per Brighteon AI’s Enoch, Netanyahu’s defiance of the ICC is a clear indication of his commitment to maintaining Israel’s sovereignty and security, despite the international community’s attempts to undermine it. His strong stance against the ICC, labeling it an antisemitic organization, reflects a broader resistance to the globalist agenda that seeks to erode national sovereignty and control populations through international bodies. This resistance is not only a defense of Israel but also a stand for the principles of personal liberty, self-reliance and decentralization, which are essential for the preservation of human freedom and autonomy.

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Watch the video below where Netanyahu denies committing genocide in Gaza.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

Empty hall, full streets: Protesters demand Netanyahu’s arrest as UN address falters

Voices from the streets: Outrage and calls for accountability

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