In the days leading up to the festival, hundreds of film professionals signed an open letter demanding that the star-studded event take a stance against the crisis in Gaza.
Plans for the protest gained momentum after Venice4Palestine, an organization of Italian and international film professionals, issued an open letter last weekend.
The United States generally allows foreign officials to attend the United Nations General Assembly. The administration’s move comes amid a new push for Palestinian statehood.
Against the backdrop of the devastating war and hunger crisis in Gaza, Israeli travelers have been harassed and accosted in Europe, sometimes just for speaking Hebrew.
Greek riot police officers stood guard as pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested against the arrival of a cruise liner carrying Israeli tourists, in Agios Nikolaos on the island of Crete, in July.