As New York braces for multiple daily protests around this year\u2019s United Nations General Assembly, NYPD officers will flood midtown Manhattan to protect the public and controversial world leaders scheduled to attend, including President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery year, we see an uptick in demonstrations and protests coinciding with the U.N. General Assembly, and as always, the NYPD will facilitate First Amendment activity,\u201d Tisch said at a briefing at NYPD headquarters Thursday. \u201cAt the same time, there will be intolerance for violence or destruction of property.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beginning Friday, the NYPD will be monitoring 55 permitted UNGA-related events, NYPD officials said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re expecting multiple protests every day,\u201d Tisch added.<\/p>\n
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference related to security preparations for the upcoming United Nations General Assembly at NYPD headquarters Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026 in New York, New York. (Barry Williams\/ New York Daily News)<\/p>\n
There are currently no credible threats against the event, said Mayor Mamdani, who also attended Thursday\u2019s briefing.<\/p>\n
Mamdani did not speak about Netanyahu\u2019s attendance at the U.N. General Assembly, even though he has repeatedly called the Israeli leader a \u201cwar criminal\u201d and had demanded his arrest over the war in Gaza just two months earlier<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people,\u201d he said in a video posted online on July 21. \u201cThere is a reason the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest.\u201d<\/p>\n Although he vowed to arrest Netanyahu on the warrant during his campaign, he acknowledged in the same July video that New York City \u201cdoes not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant\u201d and encouraged the federal government to arrest him.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, Mamdani said he will not join the protests that are likely to happen against the Israeli prime minister.<\/p>\n \u201cTo New Yorkers, I have never encouraged them to protest. What I have always told them is that they have the right to do so in this city,\u201d Mamdani said. \u201cWe respect that right, and this is a city that is proud of the Constitution, proud of the First Amendment, and will continue to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n Danny Danon, Israel\u2019s Ambassador to the United Nations, said Mamdani should be the one in handcuffs.<\/p>\n \u201cIf someone should be arrested, it\u2019s Mayor Mamdani,\u201d Danon said Thursday. \u201cThe Mayor is supposed to make sure we are going to have a quiet week with less traffic and issues, but he\u2019s doing the exact opposite<\/a>. He\u2019s inciting, calling on people to demonstrate against our prime minister, but none of that will stop us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPrime Minister Netanyahu will speak about the challenges facing Israel but also of the opportunities we have in the region,\u201d Danon said.<\/p>\n Beginning next week, New Yorkers should expect rolling road closures and \u201cfrozen zones\u201d that limit pedestrian and vehicle traffic around the U.N. at 46th St. and First Ave. Transportation in the skies above and ferry service along the East River will also be limited.<\/p>\n Next week\u2019s security measures \u2014 which are being coordinated by the NYPD along with the Secret Service, Department of State, FBI and other law enforcement agencies to protect the nearly 200 world leaders attending the U.N. General Assembly as they move about the city \u2014 were carefully balanced to both allow for protests and minimize disruption to New Yorkers going about their daily lives, officials said.<\/p>\n
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference related to security preparations for the upcoming United Nations General Assembly at NYPD headquarters Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026 in New York, New York. (Barry Williams\/ New York Daily News)<\/p>\n