New York has never been the city to keep quiet about their views, especially in the face of corruption. This past week, the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, arrived in New York to address the U.N. General Assembly. Netanyahu denounced Western countries for embracing Palestinian statehood. Many delegates exited the hall when he took the stage. Not only did the delegates convey their feelings on the matter, but the people of New York City also made their voices heard.

Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in Times Square and marched through Midtown Manhattan, calling Netanyahu a war criminal while he was speaking at the U.N. This shift was visible on the ground that day. The backlash against Netanyahu’s visit represents a continued shift in opinions towards Israel’s government. For years, bipartisan support for Israel was nearly unquestioned in U.S. politics, but given recent circumstances, criticism of Israel’s actions against Palestinians has emerged. New York, home to a huge Jewish, Arab, and Muslim population, reflects how connected the city is to the war. This is particularly evident among the younger Americans and progressives – their sentiments have become more vocal and visible.

The day of his arrival, protesters filled the streets with Palestinian flags and signs reading “Ceasefire Now” and “End the Occupation.” Some wore keffiyehs (the traditional headdresses of Palestine, which often symbolize protest) and carried posters showing images from Gaza. Police barricades lined the sidewalks as helicopters hovered overhead. Despite the tension, many participants described the march as peaceful but urgent. Their calls had long been ignored, and they felt that Netanyahu’s arrival was the perfect time to call for accountability. With this being said, New York’s streets often serve as a global stage for dissent. With the United Nations just blocks away, demonstrations here take on international significance. For many New Yorkers, protest isn’t just a right, it’s a civic tradition. From antiwar marches to Black Lives Matter rallies, the city’s sidewalks have long been the first place citizens turn when global conflicts hit close to home. 

Whereas many condemned Netanyahu’s visit, others defended Israel and asserted its right to protect itself. Small groups of counter-protests displayed Israeli flags ahead of the main rally, chanting “Hamas is a terrorist organization” as they faced protesters chanting “Free Palestine.” The split was also repeated online, where rival hashtags #StandWithPalestine and #IStandWithIsrael trended in tandem.

While thousands voiced opposition to Netanyahu’s visit in the streets, the mood inside City Hall told a different story. Mayor Eric Adams received the Israeli prime minister in private following his U.N. address and released a statement expressing his strong support for Israel. In his remarks, Adams thanked Netanyahu for “defending the western world and our way of life,” considering it incumbent on him as mayor of “the largest Jewish community outside of Israel” to align with the Jewish state. The statement brought both praise and outrage, a sign of how even municipal leaders are being pushed to navigate the deteriorating fault lines regarding Israel’s actions. Adams’ comments proved extremely unpopular with many New Yorkers — and Jewish New Yorkers — who criticized the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza and the West Bank. 

The protests surrounding Netanyahu’s visit underscored New York City’s enduring role as a stage for global voices. As the debate over Israel and Palestine continues to divide public opinion, New Yorkers once again showed that the city’s streets are not only places of movement, but of meaning. Whether in support or dissent, their presence reflected a larger truth — that in New York, silence is never the answer.