Why did actors Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder protest Netanyahu outside UN?

On September 24, 2026, over 100 individuals were apprehended by New York police during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside the United Nations. The demonstrators were primarily voicing their discontent over Israel's military operations in Gaza and the persistent U.S. assistance to Israel. The protest was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, who called for an end to US arms deliveries to Israel and an immediate halt to the conflict in Gaza.

Hannah Einbinder, a Jewish actor from the TV series Hacks, took part in the demonstration due to her belief that speaking out against Israel's actions in Gaza was a moral obligation. Susan Sarandon, a renowned Oscar-winning actor, joined the protesters wearing a T-shirt that read "Fund people, not bombs" as they chanted, "Let Gaza live, stop arming Israel." The demonstration took place in front of the UN headquarters where Netanyahu was scheduled to address the UN General Assembly.

Protesters' demands included stopping the war in Gaza and halting U.S. military support to Israel. They carried signs reading "Stop Arming Israel" and "End the Genocide," and wore white T-shirts with the message "Fund People Not Bombs." NYPD officials reported that 103 people were arrested, with those detained given summonses for disorderly conduct and released. Protesters blocked a road leading to the UN headquarters, and were eventually ordered to disperse by the police.