# Thousands flood NYC streets as Netanyahu addresses UN

> New York's pro-Palestine movement resurges with massive protests as the Israeli PM speaks at the United Nations.
- Title: Thousands flood NYC streets as Netanyahu addresses UN
- Summary: New York's pro-Palestine movement resurges with massive protests as the Israeli PM speaks at the United Nations. Despite years of Trump-era crackdowns on…
- Keywords: benjamin netanyahu, gaza, israel, palestine, new york city, united nations, protest, pro-palestine movement, zohran mamdani, war crimes, international criminal court, Thousands
- Source: Mother Jones — https://motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/israel-gaza-protest-netanyahu-new-york-united-nations-speech
- Author: Sophie Hurwitz
- Published: 2026-09-24T20:06:29+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: benjamin netanyahu, gaza, israel, palestine, new york city, united nations, protest, pro-palestine movement, zohran mamdani, war crimes, international criminal court
## Thousands return to NYC streets
On September 24, hundreds of New Yorkers formed a human chain at the UN complex as Netanyahu arrived, followed by a massive march of over a thousand people carrying Palestinian flags.

> We're getting 2024 numbers!
## Movement had faded under Trump
Early Gaza protests filled NYC streets with hundreds arrested and major landmarks occupied, but Trump's crackdowns, including deportations and jailing of leaders, had quieted the movement in recent years.
## NYC mayor calls Netanyahu a war criminal
Mayor Zohran Mamdani told CNN that Netanyahu is a war criminal and architect of genocide who should face International Criminal Court accountability, though he didn't join the protests himself.

> a war criminal and an architect of a horrific genocide of the Palestinian people
## Progressive candidates join the march
Incoming progressive lawmakers including Darializa Chevalier, Chris Rabb, Melat Kiros, and Adam Hamawy participated, with celebrities Hannah Einbinder and Susan Sarandon also arrested during the protest.
## Congress members pledge action
Chris Rabb, a state legislator backed by AOC, said incoming progressives will use their congressional authority to fight what he called atrocities and hold accountable those who enabled them.

> We're going to use all of our authority as members of Congress to speak up against injustice
## Organizers demand concrete policy changes
Palestinian Youth Movement organizers called for divesting city pension funds from Israel bonds, cracking down on illegal Palestinian land sales, and investigating charities funding military settlements.
## Key takeaway

Despite years of Trump-era crackdowns on pro-Palestine activism, thousands of New Yorkers and elected officials mobilized to protest Netanyahu's UN appearance, signaling renewed momentum for the movement.