Susan Sarandon was among the high-profile figures detained during a protest held outside the United Nations ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address.
The 79-year-old actress was one of dozens taken into custody as NYPD officers moved to clear First Avenue before Netanyahu’s speech to the UN General Assembly.
Sarandon, who drew widespread backlash over pro-Palestinian remarks in 2023, appeared calm as officers placed her in handcuffs. She looked toward the sky while being detained, three years after she was arrested at a protest outside New York’s state Capitol in Albany.
Hacks star Hannah Einbinder, another prominent supporter of Palestine, was also reportedly taken into custody.
Sarandon and the 31-year-old Einbinder were both seen wearing white T-shirts bearing the message: “fund people not bombs.”
Comedian and rising actor Caleb Hearon, 31, was also seen alongside police, as were several New York City council members.
Susan Sarandon was among the stars detained during a protest outside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the United Nations
Hacks actress Hannah Einbinder, a vocal supporter of Palestine, was also reportedly taken into custody
Netanyahu is seen addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York on Thursday
Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon, 60, also attended the demonstration, although the Daily Mail understands that she was not among those arrested.
The protest began around noon, when socialist groups joined Jewish Voice for Peace in blocking traffic near the UN. Demonstrators sought to condemn Netanyahu’s war in Gaza and the continuing conflict involving Iran.
Before Netanyahu’s visit, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called for his arrest, arguing that the United States should honor a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.
Netanyahu is wanted by the ICC over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza. However, the United States is not a member of the court, and New York City does not have the authority to arrest him.
Protesters chanted “free Palestine,” “stop arming Israel” and “let Iran live” as the demonstration continued.
Arrests began less than an hour after the protest started. Officers used zip ties to restrain demonstrators as they shouted: “Netanyahu, you can’t hide! We charge you with genocide!”
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Sarandon and Einbinder for comment but has not yet received a response.
Inside the UN, meanwhile, large numbers of delegates walked out during Netanyahu’s speech in a dramatic display of opposition.
A smiling Sarandon, who faced widespread backlash over her pro-Palestinian comments, looked calmly toward the sky as NYPD officers handcuffed her. The detention came three years after she was arrested at a protest at New York’s state Capitol in Albany
Sarandon and Einbinder, 31, were both seen wearing white T-shirts reading: “fund people not bombs”
Comedian and rising actor Caleb Hearon was also seen with police, alongside several New York City council members
Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon (Above at The Emmys last week), 60, was also at the protest, but Daily Mail understands she was not among those who were arrested
The 76-year-old Israeli Prime Minister defended his country’s military operations in Gaza as his speech was also disrupted by pro-Palestine chants.
Delegates jeered and booed, while Netanyahu’s own team stood and applauded, and the speaker of the session shouted for order.
‘If there are any other moral cowards who haven’t left this hall, please do so now,’ Netanyahu said.
Allegations of Israeli genocide in Gaza are not only false but ‘the biggest lie of the century,’ Netanyahu told world leaders in a defiant speech that asserted his nation’s right to wage war against Iran.
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Netanyahu also said: ‘Now, you want to hear the ultimate irony? Israel is also defending many of the countries whose delegates just left this hall.
‘Many of the countries whose delegates just left this hall. In fact, I want you to know that many of their leaders even thank us privately for taking out Iran’s nukes. It’s hard to imagine more mind-blowing hypocrisy.
‘Where were you when the Iranian tyrants butchered and maimed tens of thousands of unarmed Iranian civilians?’
Netanyahu also labeled those who walked out as ‘phony human rights protesters.’
The protest began at around noon as socialist groups joined Jewish Voice For Peace as they blocked traffic near the UN with the aim of calling out Netanyahu’s war in Gaza and the ongoing conflict in Iran
Meanwhile, earlier this month Sarandon revealed that her political beliefs continue to affect her professional life.
The veteran actress – who has previously said she’s been blacklisted over pro-Palestinian comments – was asked at the Venice Film Festival if the ‘tides [are] changing’ in show business.
She answered in part, ‘In terms of the power structure. I’ve still had movies taken away recently, because there are agencies that are telling people not to hire me still. But that’s the power structure,’ per People.
On the other hand, she said, ‘I think that the narrative has completely changed. There’s a lot of things that people are aware of now.’
Sarandon said in Italy on Sunday, ‘Certainly internationally, I feel welcome. So it depends. If it’s a major studio, I think there is, not just with me, but with other people… that have been told that that is impossible.’
Referencing the movie, she continued, ‘In terms of doing this film, I thank Andrea for that, because he didn’t listen to the warnings.
‘So I think, yes, there has been a change in terms of understanding of the situation, and I think the general public, but there are still very strongly held positions within my industry held by Zionists and [those] who have not relaxed their feelings towards me. But I found my family, I found my people, and I’m okay.’
Earlier this year, Sarandon spoke out about her alleged blacklisting from the industry over pro-Palestinian remarks she made amid Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza.
Meanwhile, droves of delegates walked out of the UN General Assembly during Netanyahu’s speech in a scene that was very dramatic
Netanyahu also labeled those who walked out as ‘moral cowards’ before calling them ‘phony human rights protesters’
During a press conference in Barcelona, Spain in March, she recalled being dropped by her talent agency after she called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
‘I was fired by my agency specifically for marching and speaking out about Gaza – for asking for a ceasefire – and it became impossible for me to even be on television,’ she said ahead of the 40th Goya Awards.
‘I don’t know lately if it’s changed, [but] I couldn’t do any major film, anything connected with Hollywood,’ she shared.
Sarandon said that even foreign filmmakers were being urged not to work with her.
‘This Italian director that just hired me, he was told not to hire me,’ she noted. ‘So that’s still recently. He didn’t listen, but they had that conversation.’
Israel has grown increasingly isolated throughout the war in Gaza. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing around 1,200 people and kidnapping 251.
At least 73,922 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s subsequent offensive, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-run government whose numbers are generally considered reliable by the international community.
A ceasefire agreed to by Israel and Hamas last October halted the heaviest of the fighting and led to the release of the remaining hostages yet further steps have since stalled.
Israel maintains control of most of Gaza and continues to carry out airstrikes on Palestinians near military-held zones.
Hamas has not disarmed or relinquished power and there has been no progress toward reconstruction in the mostly destroyed territory.