Benjamin Netanyahu Defies Zohran Mamdani Over New York Visit
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s declaration that he is not welcome in the city, confirming that he intends to attend the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Netanyahu Confirms New York Visit
Netanyahu said he would travel to New York to speak from the UN podium on behalf of Israel and the Israeli-American alliance. His remarks followed Mamdani’s criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and support for an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against the Israeli leader.
Netanyahu accused Mamdani of “fomenting hate” and attempting to turn communities against one another. He argued that the mayor should represent all New Yorkers, including Jewish, Christian and Muslim residents.
The Israeli prime minister also rejected the allegations against him as politically motivated and described the ICC warrant as “bogus.”
Mamdani Says Netanyahu Not Welcome
Mamdani previously described Netanyahu as a war criminal and said he was not welcome in New York City. He had pledged during his mayoral campaign to pursue Netanyahu’s arrest if the Israeli leader visited for the UN gathering.
However, Mamdani later acknowledged that New York City does not possess the independent legal authority to enforce the ICC warrant. He instead called on the US federal government to join the court and act on the warrant.
President Donald Trump has assured Netanyahu that he will not be arrested while visiting the United States.
ICC Warrant Fuels Political Dispute
The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant in 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity connected to the Gaza conflict. Israel denies the allegations and does not recognise the court’s jurisdiction.
The United States is also not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the ICC. Consequently, the warrant does not create the same arrest obligation in the US that applies to member countries.
