Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of “fomenting hate” following the mayor’s earlier threat to arrest him.
Netanyahu, who is scheduled to travel to the United States on Monday, told Fox News on Sunday that he remains “not concerned” about the previous arrest threat and confirmed he still plans to attend the UN General Assembly in New York later this year.
The Israeli leader will meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday and attend a funeral service for the late Senator Lindsey Graham. New York is not part of his current itinerary.
Netanyahu’s Response
“He’s fomenting hate. He’s supposed to be the mayor of all New Yorkers — Jews, Christians, Muslims, everyone,” Netanyahu said. “But he’s trying to turn one group against the other. I speak to Jewish Americans, and they’re afraid right now.”
He referenced two stabbings that occurred in New York on Thursday, in which a suspect allegedly attacked a Jewish man and an Asian man within blocks of each other while shouting “Allahu Akbar.” The suspect has been charged with hate crimes. Both victims survived.
Background on the Arrest Threat
During his campaign, Mamdani, a strong supporter of Palestinian rights, made opposition to Israel’s military operations in Gaza a central issue. He previously pledged to enforce a 2024 International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Netanyahu, which accuses the Israeli prime minister of war crimes in Gaza. Netanyahu has dismissed the charges as “bogus.”
Last week, after being pressed on the issue, Mamdani walked back the pledge. He acknowledged that his administration lacks the independent legal authority to enforce the ICC warrant and instead urged the federal government to act. He maintained that “Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City.”
The mayor’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Context of the Conflict
The Israeli military launched its campaign in Gaza following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, more than 73,000 people, including over 21,000 children, have been killed in the subsequent conflict. The UN considers the ministry’s figures reliable.
Netanyahu’s comments come amid heightened tensions and growing concerns among some Jewish New Yorkers about safety in the city.