Pro-Palestinian activists in New York staged a protest by playing soccer outside the United Nations headquarters with a ball made to look like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s head in opposition to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.
Pro-Palestinian activists played soccer with a ball shaped like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's head in front of the UN headquarters in New York
(Video: Storyful, USA TODAY)
The stunt that took place on Sunday was organized by INDECLINE, an American collective that describes itself as an underground protest art movement. Founded in the early 2000s, the group is known for political provocations, street art and subversive installations. The replica of Netanyahu’s head was created by Spanish artist Eugenio Merino.
“The game took place just before the 80th session of the U.N. General Assembly, and its purpose was to draw the attention of the international community to the genocide currently taking place in Gaza,” INDECLINE said in a statement. The group added that the game was played by “activists and citizens,” including both Jews and Palestinians.
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Protesters play soccer in front of the UN in New York using a ball made to look like Netanyahu's head
(Photo: Storyful)
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Soccer ball made to look like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used in protest outside UN headquarters
(Photo: Storyful)
The protest came about two weeks before the U.N. General Assembly session, during which several countries are expected to recognize a Palestinian state, against the backdrop of the ongoing Gaza war. France and Saudi Arabia are leading the initiative and plan to hold a “Two-State Solution Conference” during the assembly.
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Pro-Palestinian activists played soccer with a ball shaped like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's head in front of the UN headquarters
(Photo: Storyful)
INDECLINE has a history of provocative actions. In August 2016, the group placed nude statues of Donald Trump in several U.S. cities while he was the Republican nominee for president. The statues — installed in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Cleveland and Seattle — depicted Trump with a scowling face, a protruding belly and no testicles.