War in Gaza leads to beefed up security for U.N. General Assembly

The already-tight security put into place annually for the United Nations General Assembly is being intensified even more due to expected pro-Palestinian protests over Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, the NYPD said Friday.

New York City has seen about a dozen daily protests in the aftermath of Oct. 7 — some of which have gotten disorderly and disruptive, such as participants blocking traffic, occupying buildings, setting off flares and gluing themselves to the street — John Chell, the NYPD’s chief of patrol, said at a Friday news conference outside the United Nations.

Chell said the protests have "changed the dynamic" of securing the U.N. General Assembly, which has been held in the city since 1952.

"We will allow people to exercise their First Amendment. But the message here is clear: while you protest, if you think you’re gonna damage property, light flares, disrupt our community, take our streets, we’re gonna do everything in our power, as the largest police department in this nation, to put you behind bars — everything in our power," Chell said.

The news conference featured officials from the NYPD as well as the U.S. Secret Service and State Department. The officials didn't disclose specifics particulars of how security would be intensified.

The invasion of Israel by Hamas killed about 1,200 people, according to the Israeli government. In response, Israel invaded Gaza, killing nearly over 41,000 people, according to the United Nations. That death toll may eventually reach 186,000 or more, due to disease, destroyed infrastructure, and food and water shortages, according to a July article in The Lancet, a medical journal.

On Wednesday, the General Assembly backed a nonbinding Palestinian resolution demanding that Israel end its "unlawful presence" in Gaza and the occupied West Bank within a year, according to The Associated Press. The vote, in the 193-member body, was 124-14, with 43 abstentions.

Protests over Israel’s approach to the war have been held around the world, and in New York City, there have been nearly 4,000, Chell said.

Protest leaders have assailed the NYPD’s more aggressive tactics — including shoving, punching and grabbing demonstrators indiscriminately who are just walking on the street — citing a federal settlement the NYPD agreed to last year meant to protect protesters’ First Amendment rights and curb violence by the police.

The U.N. General Assembly, being held next week, is expected to draw 142 world leaders, from 75% of all member states, said Patrick J. Freaney, special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s New York office.

The NYPD plans to deploy drones and install special cameras to surveil protests, said Kaz Daughtry, the department’s deputy commissioner of operations.

"The cool thing about the technology with the drones this year is that I can send Patrick a link to the drones that he can watch real time of the protest occurring and maybe he may need to put additional resources there or make recommendations for his team," he said.

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.