Netanyahu vs Mamdani: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that he will travel to New York in September to address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) despite mayor Zohran Mamdani’s
declaration that he is “not welcome” in the city and dismissing calls for his arrest under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, Netanyahu said he would not be deterred by the controversy surrounding his planned visit.
“I will come to New York to fight for the truth of the Jewish people. I intend to come and speak the truth, speak for Israel and for the Israeli-American alliance from the podium of the United Nations,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu further accused Mamdani of deepening divisions in New York and fostering hostility towards the Jewish community. “He’s supposed to be the mayor of all New Yorkers — Jews, Christians, Muslims, everyone. But he’s trying to turn one group against the other,” Netanyhau said.
He also accused the mayor of aligning with “Hamas murderers” and supporting the October 7 attack on the Israeli public.
“What Mamdani is supporting, his wife, his family – he celebrated October 7th massacre, the worst massacre against Jews since the Holocaust,” Netanyahu said. “He’s basically supporting – he tries to say that he doesn’t – but he’s supporting the Hamas murderers who raped our women then beheaded them, burnt babies alive, slaughtered our men, took innocent people hostages, 251 men, women, children, babies. That’s who he’s supporting.”
Netanyahu turned the allegations of genocide against Israel back onto Hamas, emphasising the contrast between Israeli military objectives and the militants’ intent.
“And they’re the ones who are responsible for genocide. They would have killed as their charter says and as they themselves proclaimed, they would have killed every single Jew in Israel and every Jew in the world,” he stated, adding, “So the genocide charge belongs to our enemies. What we’re doing is trying to fight this genocidal terrorist organization that embeds itself among civilians, prevents us from moving the civilians out of harm’s way… That’s where the real criminals are.”
Netanyahu asserted that the mayor’s rhetoric creates a dangerous environment for Jewish residents in New York.
“He’s fomenting hate. He’s supposed to be the mayor of all New Yorkers: Jews, Christians, Muslims, everyone. But he’s trying to turn one group against the other and he’s foisting hate and fear,” Netanyahu warned. “I speak to Jewish Americans in New York and they’re afraid right now.”
Mamdani calls for ICC warrant to be enforced
The remarks came days after Mamdani said Netanyahu was “not welcome” in New York City and urged the US federal government to enforce the ICC arrest warrant against the Israeli leader.
While acknowledging that New York City does not have the legal authority to execute the warrant, Mamdani called on federal authorities to take action if Netanyahu visits the United States.
The ICC issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu in 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Israel has rejected the allegations and challenged the court’s jurisdiction.
Trump backs Netanyahu
US President Donald Trump also weighed in on the controversy, saying on social media that Netanyahu “will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form” while in the United States.
The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders in 2024, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to Israel’s military operations following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. Israel has strongly rejected the allegations and challenged the court’s jurisdiction.
Zohran Mamdani, who has frequently criticised Israel’s actions in Gaza and accused the Israeli government of committing genocide, had previously raised the possibility of enforcing the ICC warrant during his mayoral campaign.
Netanyahu is expected to travel to Washington this week before visiting New York in September to address world leaders at the UN General Assembly. His planned visit is likely to keep the debate over the ICC warrant and the Gaza conflict in the international spotlight.
(With inputs from agencies)
