More than 100 protesters were arrested in New York on Thursday as demonstrators gathered near the United Nations to denounce Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and demand an end to U.S. military support for Israel amid the devastating war in Gaza.

The demonstrations took place as Netanyahu addressed the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, where he rejected allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza and defended his government's military campaign.

More than 400 people participated in a sit-in near the UN headquarters, according to Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), one of the groups that organized the action together with the New York City chapter of Democratic Socialists of America. Protesters blocked part of First Avenue, holding signs calling for an end to U.S. arms shipments to Israel and chanting “Let Gaza Live.”

The New York Police Department said 103 people were arrested for disorderly conduct, and all had subsequently been released. Organizers said nine of those arrested were elected officials or candidates for public office.

Among those detained were political candidates, activists and prominent public figures. JVP said the demonstration included Jewish, Palestinian, Iranian and Lebanese New Yorkers, as well as several elected officials and celebrities.

The protesters also sought to highlight New York's role in the wider U.S. military support network for Israel. A day earlier, NYC-DSA activists held a demonstration at John F. Kennedy International Airport, demanding an immediate halt to shipments of weapons and explosive materials destined for the Israeli military and greater transparency over previous shipments.

The demonstrations reflected growing opposition among activists in New York to Washington's continued military backing of Israel. Protesters accused the U.S. government of enabling Israel's military campaign in Gaza and called for an end to arms transfers.

During his UN address, Netanyahu rejected accusations that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza, describing the allegation as the “greatest lie of the century.” He said Israel had taken measures to protect Palestinian civilians and maintained that its military campaign was directed against Hamas.

Netanyahu also directly confronted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, accusing him of being antisemitic and of spreading what Netanyahu described as false claims about Israel. Netanyahu further claimed that Jewish New Yorkers had become less safe since Mamdani's election.

Mamdani has previously criticized Israel's military campaign in Gaza and described Netanyahu as a war criminal, while saying he supports New Yorkers' constitutional right to protest. He has also argued that the authority to arrest Netanyahu lies with the federal government rather than the New York City administration.

The protests were among several demonstrations held in New York during Netanyahu's visit. Jewish and Palestinian activists, including groups that oppose Israel's policies from different political and religious perspectives, gathered in Manhattan to demand accountability over Israel's conduct in Gaza.

The demonstrations also came amid intensifying international scrutiny of Israel's military campaign. Netanyahu's appearance at the UN itself was marked by a visible protest inside the General Assembly, with numerous delegates leaving the chamber before or during his address.

For Palestinian solidarity groups, Netanyahu's presence in New York offered an opportunity to draw renewed attention to the humanitarian consequences of the Gaza war and to demand an end to U.S. military support for Israel. JVP said protesters were determined to continue campaigning against what it describes as U.S. complicity in Israel's actions in Gaza. (ILKHA)