Why Manhattan Became the Stage for Israel’s Domestic Conflict
When Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at his Upper East Side hotel in September 2025, he didn’t just check into a room – he stepped into a flashpoint for a war that has ripped through Israeli society. Thousands of Israelis living abroad, especially in New York, have watched the Gaza war and the 2023 judicial overhaul unfold on television and social media, feeling both powerless and outraged. Their frustration boiled over into a series of protests that spilled onto the streets of Manhattan, just days before Netanyahu’s address to the United Nations General Assembly.
The protests were not a spontaneous flash mob. Community groups, student organizations and human‑rights NGOs coordinated with a loose coalition of pro‑Palestinian activists. Their flyers advertised a “No Sleep for Netanyahu” vigil, promising to keep the Prime Minister uncomfortable wherever he went. The main rally point was the *Waldorf Astoria*‑style hotel where Netanyahu was staying, a symbol that drew the media’s eye and amplified the message.
Over three days – September 25, 26 and 27 – the crowd swelled to several hundred people each night. Protesters carried signs that read “End the Gaza War,” “Hostages Must Come Home,” and “Abolish the Overhaul.” The most striking slogan, which the organizers highlighted on social media, was Netanyahu protests Manhattan, a phrase that quickly trended on Twitter and helped the demonstration gain international visibility.
Clashes, Arrests and the March to the UN
Opposing the demonstrators were a group of pro‑Israel supporters, many of whom were members of local synagogues and political clubs. Their counter‑rally featured blue‑and‑white flags, chants of “Netanyahu – the leader we need,” and a call for unity against what they called anti‑Israeli bias. The two sides were separated by a thin line of police officers, but tensions rose as the night wore on. At least one pro‑Israel participant was escorted away after a verbal altercation turned physical, and police issued several warnings about crowd control.
The climax came just before midnight on September 27, when the “No Sleep for Netanyahu” demonstration turned into a street‑level sit‑in. Police reported 14 arrests for trespassing, disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic. Most detainees were released without charge later that morning, but the arrests underscored how volatile the situation had become.
While the hotel protests captured headlines, a larger march unfolded earlier that same day. Approximately 2,000 activists – a mix of Israeli expatriates, Palestinian solidarity groups, and left‑wing activists – walked from Times Square to the UN headquarters. Their timing was deliberate: the march arrived just as Netanyahu took the podium to address the General Assembly. Organizers later claimed that many heads of state left the chamber mid‑speech, interpreting the walk‑outs as a silent rebuke of Israel’s policies.
Both the hotel protests and the Times Square march highlighted a growing split within the Israeli diaspora. Many expatriates feel alienated from the political narrative back home, especially after months of nationwide demonstrations against the judicial overhaul that many say threatens democratic checks and balances. For them, the Gaza conflict added a moral urgency that could not be ignored.
New York City officials, meanwhile, walked a tightrope. Mayor Eric Adams issued a statement affirming the city’s support for peaceful protest and the right to free speech, while also urging “all participants to respect public safety.” The NYPD’s presence was largely preventive, with officers monitoring the streets and dispersing crowd clusters only when the risk of violence escalated.
As the UN session concluded, the image of Netanyahu standing at the podium, flanked by diplomatic leaders, contrasted sharply with the chants echoing from Manhattan’s avenues. Whether the protests will shift policy in Jerusalem remains uncertain, but the visible dissent from abroad has certainly added a new layer to the debate over Israel’s war strategy and internal reforms.