Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of 'fomenting hate' after the mayor said he would encourage the federal government to arrest Netanyahu over Israel's war in Gaza if the PM visits the city.
Key facts
- Netanyahu accused NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani of 'fomenting hate' on Sunday.
- Mamdani had called Netanyahu a war criminal who should be arrested if he visits New York.
- Netanyahu called the ICC's war crime charges 'bogus' and said he plans to attend the UN General Assembly in New York in September.
- Mamdani acknowledged New York City lacks legal authority to execute an ICC arrest warrant and encouraged the federal government to act.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is ‘fomenting hate’ by calling the Israeli prime minister a war criminal who should be arrested over Israel’s war in Gaza if he visits the city for the United Nations General Assembly.
Netanyahu said he intends to be in New York in September to address the annual UN gathering of world leaders, despite the mayor’s suggestion that he is not welcome, according to the Guardian. The prime minister dismissed the International Criminal Court’s war crime charges against him as ‘bogus.’
Mamdani said on Wednesday that while New York City does not have the legal authority to execute an arrest warrant issued by the world’s top war crimes court, he encouraged the federal government to do so.
According to the BBC, Mamdani walked back his threat last week, acknowledging that he lacked the legal power to arrest Netanyahu on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.
The exchange sets up a potential flashpoint ahead of the UN General Assembly, where Netanyahu says he plans to appear in person in the city led by the mayor who has publicly questioned his welcome.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights tensions between an Israeli leader facing ICC charges and a major US city's mayor, raising questions about how international war crimes warrants intersect with domestic and local authority. It also foreshadows a high-profile confrontation at the UN General Assembly in September.
Frequently asked questions
Can New York City arrest Netanyahu?
No. Mamdani acknowledged that New York City does not have the legal authority to execute an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, though he encouraged the federal government to do so.
When does Netanyahu plan to visit New York?
Netanyahu said he intends to be in New York in September to address the annual UN General Assembly of world leaders.
What did Netanyahu say about the ICC charges?
Netanyahu called the ICC's war crime charges against him 'bogus.'