New York City witnessed large-scale demonstrations on Thursday as protesters voiced their opposition to the ongoing war in the Middle East, coinciding with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's arrival for the U.N. General Assembly.
Pro-Palestinian and Pro-Israeli Groups Clash
Crowds of pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators gathered near Grand Central Terminal, resulting in restricted access to the transit hub.
Simultaneously, thousands of protesters gathered at the New York Public Library steps before marching toward the U.N. in a show of solidarity against the violence in the region. The anti-war protests were particularly prominent on Manhattan's East Side, amid escalating tensions stemming from the ongoing conflict.
As Netanyahu landed in New York on Thursday, U.S. and European officials were pressuring both sides to accept a proposed 21-day ceasefire aimed at facilitating diplomacy and preventing a broader conflict.
However, Netanyahu has pledged to continue "full force" strikes against Hezbollah, casting doubt on the feasibility of the ceasefire.
Earlier on Thursday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the U.N. General Assembly, calling on world leaders to broker a peace deal. His speech was met with loud applause, and he emphasised, “We will not leave. We will not leave. We will not leave,” condemning Israel's actions in Gaza.
In response, Israel's U.N. ambassador Danny Danon criticised Abbas for failing to mention Hamas in his speech. "Abbas spoke for 26 minutes and did not say the word 'Hamas' once," Danon stated, highlighting the ongoing tensions.
As Netanyahu prepares to speak at the U.N. once more, he confronts a vastly different landscape compared to last year, when he envisioned a new era of peace in the Middle East.
The ongoing war in Gaza is nearing its one-year mark, and Israel's relationship with Hezbollah threatens to escalate into a larger regional conflict.
Moreover, Netanyahu's arrival in New York comes amid the possibility of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, placing him in the company of leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin and former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.
On Wednesday, the U.S., France, and other allies issued a joint call for an immediate 21-day ceasefire to allow for negotiations in the escalating conflict with Hezbollah, which has resulted in over 600 casualties in Lebanon.
Their statement deemed the recent violence "intolerable" and urged for diplomatic discussions. However, the Israeli prime minister's office dismissed the ceasefire proposal as "incorrect," asserting that Netanyahu had not even responded to the suggestion and that reports of a directive to moderate the fighting were false.