Culture 4 min read By Trevor Kendall
Hannah Einbinder and Susan Sarandon Detained at UN Protest as Netanyahu Speaks
Actors Hannah Einbinder and Susan Sarandon were among roughly 100 anti-war demonstrators detained outside the United Nations on Thursday while protesting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to the General Assembly, where dozens of delegates walked out during his speech.
Hannah Einbinder and Susan Sarandon were among as many as 100 anti-war protesters detained outside the United Nations on Thursday, as demonstrators blocked the entrance to the building where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the General Assembly.
The arrests, first reported by Deadline, came as chants of «Free Palestine» echoed outside the U.N. compound in New York City. Images of the actors being led away in handcuffs circulated widely on social media before Netanyahu began speaking, according to Variety. Consequence reported that Einbinder, who is Jewish, shouted «Free Palestine! Get Netanyahu out of New York» while being escorted from the protest.
The demonstration was one of several signs of dissent surrounding Netanyahu's appearance. Dozens of delegates walked out of the General Assembly hall during his speech, adding a visible layer of diplomatic protest to the scene outside. The walkout and the arrests together underscored the intensity of opposition to the Israeli leader's visit, which drew global attention as the annual gathering of world leaders convened.
Einbinder, best known for her role on the HBO series «Hacks», has been outspoken on political issues in the past. Sarandon, an Academy Award-winning actress and longtime activist, has a long history of participating in anti-war and social justice demonstrations. Their presence at the protest brought additional media scrutiny to an event that already carried significant international weight.
The timing of the detentions placed the entertainment industry at the center of a broader political moment. As images of the two actors in custody spread online, the story quickly moved from the realm of foreign policy into the cultural conversation, where celebrity activism often amplifies attention on international conflicts. The protest outside the U.N. was not an isolated incident but part of a wave of demonstrations that have accompanied Netanyahu's overseas trips in recent years.
Authorities have not released a full accounting of the charges faced by those detained, and it was not immediately clear whether Einbinder and Sarandon remained in custody or were released later in the day. Representatives for the actors did not immediately comment publicly.
The General Assembly session continues this week, with leaders from dozens of nations scheduled to speak. Netanyahu's address was expected to focus on Israel's security concerns and its ongoing conflicts, though the walkout by delegates signaled that his message would face a visible diplomatic rebuke inside the hall.
For the entertainment world, the episode marks another instance in which prominent performers have used their platforms to weigh in on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a subject that has divided Hollywood and drawn increasing attention at film festivals and award shows. The detentions of Einbinder and Sarandon are likely to keep that conversation alive in the coming days.
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