As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to speak at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on Thursday, hundreds of protesters gathered outside, causing traffic disruptions and leading to several arrests by early afternoon. The demonstration was one of several this week targeting Netanyahu, and included Jewish, Palestinian, Iranian, and Lebanese New Yorkers, as well as elected officials, candidates in the upcoming November elections, and celebrities. Protesters wore shirts with messages like "Fund people not bombs" and chanted slogans such as "Let Gaza live" and "the whole world is watching." Some sat in the street for over an hour, blocking motorcades heading to the UN and unfurling banners that called for an end to what they describe as a "genocide" in Gaza. One banner read "Free Palestine," referencing Israel’s earlier warning that it would target Palestinian children flying kites. A second protest was planned for later that afternoon, with large crowds expected to gather in midtown Manhattan before marching toward the UN. Earlier in the week, members of the Democratic Socialists of America in New York City protested at John F. Kennedy International Airport, objecting to weapons and explosives being shipped to Israel via commercial flights. Beth Miller, political director of Jewish Voice for Peace Action, which organized the first protest, said the demonstrations showed that New Yorkers, including Jewish residents, oppose what they call "war criminals" and "architects of genocide." She cited Israel’s killing of over 75,000 Palestinians in the conflict, which she said is likely an undercount. Protests against Netanyahu’s UN appearances are not new, but this year’s demonstrations reflect growing public anger in the U.S. over the government’s continued support for Israel, especially as Israel’s military actions in Gaza have intensified and led to greater international criticism. Actor Hannah Einbinder, who has spoken out frequently in support of Palestinian rights, said at the protest that the U.S. should stop funding what she called a "genocide." She expressed a moral obligation to join the protests as a Jew, an American, and a human being. The opposition to Israel’s war in Gaza has shifted public opinion in the U.S., influencing political campaigns. Many leftist candidates who ran on platforms calling for an end to U.S. aid to Israel won primaries earlier this year. Some of these candidates, including New York’s Darializa Avila Chevalier and Brad Lander, and others from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Colorado, attended Thursday’s protest. Chevalier, a pro-Palestinian activist who shocked the political establishment with her June primary win, said it was important to show that New Yorkers oppose the use of tax dollars for what they call "war crimes." Army doctor Adam Hamawy, who had previously worked in Gaza, criticized the U.S. government for not taking legal action against Netanyahu, saying it is absurd that people must protest in the streets when the government is supposed to uphold international law. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has called Netanyahu a "war criminal" and pledged to arrest him if he entered the city, did not immediately comment on the number of arrests or the protests. While Mamdani has said he supports New Yorkers’ right to protest, he admitted he does not have the legal authority to order Netanyahu’s arrest, urging the federal government to take action. His election, which was marked by strong criticism of Israel, signals a shift in public sentiment in New York. Aber Kawas, who will soon become the first Palestinian-American elected to the New York legislature, said Mamdani’s victory reflects the will of New Yorkers who want Netanyahu to be arrested and not allowed to enter the city.