Protesters Shut First Avenue Before Netanyahu's 2 p.m. UN Address as Gaza War Fuels Tensions
Updated
Updated · WABC-TV · Sep 24
Protesters Shut First Avenue Before Netanyahu's 2 p.m. UN Address as Gaza War Fuels Tensions
3 articles · Updated · WABC-TV · Sep 24
Summary
Northbound First Avenue at East 39th Street was closed Thursday after protesters gathered near the U.N. ahead of Benjamin Netanyahu's 2 p.m. General Assembly address, drawing a police response.
The demonstration was driven by anger over Israel's war in Gaza and by Netanyahu's escalating public clash with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Netanyahu is expected to use the speech to answer Mamdani, who said the Israeli leader should be arrested as a war criminal, though the mayor later acknowledged New York City lacks that authority.
Demonstrators had already assembled Wednesday across from U.N. headquarters, underscoring how criticism of Netanyahu has become a focal point of this year's U.N. gathering.