Comedian Hannah Einbinder was detained on 24 September 2026 during a protest outside the United Nations in New York, opposing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address at the UN General Assembly. She was among dozens of protesters, including actress Susan Sarandon, who faced police action after the demonstration disrupted public traffic near the UN headquarters.
Einbinder shared a statement on her Instagram Story urging the public and media to focus on the ongoing conflict affecting Gaza and southern Lebanon rather than the high-profile nature of the arrests. “If the pictures of my friends and me getting arrested in protest of Netanyahu’s shameful visit to New York draw attention to anything, let it be to the devastating genocidal war Israel is waging against people of Palestine and Southern Lebanon…” she wrote.
According to multiple sources including Deadline, The Guardian, and CBC, the protest resulted in detentions of more than two dozen people, though reports vary with some estimates reaching around 100 detainees. Variety noted that it remained unclear whether Einbinder and others were formally arrested or briefly detained. No official police statement has been published to confirm exact numbers or arrest statuses.
Einbinder criticised the US government’s role in the conflict, stating, “The U.S. government has the power to bring an end to all of this killing, pillaging, and land theft, yet instead it chooses to welcome the butcher of Gaza with open arms.” She emphasised the urgency of the humanitarian crisis, stating: “Let us not mistake the spectacle for the story: genocide is the headline, and it is time for it to end.”
The protest reportedly intensified as demonstrators blocked an intersection near the UN, prompting police intervention and leading to the detentions. The presence of celebrities like Einbinder and Sarandon drew significant media attention but activists maintain their focus is on advocating for Palestinian and Lebanese civilians caught in the crossfire.
This demonstration reflects growing global protests against Netanyahu’s policies and the wider escalation of violence in the Middle East. South African observers have followed the conflict closely, given its implications for regional and international diplomacy.
The exact legal status of Einbinder’s detention and the final total of detainees remain unverified as of this publication. Cape Flats correspondent will monitor developments and provide updates as new information becomes available.