Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani of “fomenting hate” over the mayor’s call for the prime minister’s arrest, as the International Criminal Court’s war crimes charges against Netanyahu remained unaddressed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday accused New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani of “fomenting hate” for labeling him a war criminal and urging federal authorities to arrest him during a planned U.N. General Assembly visit in September. The dispute intensified as Netanyahu dismissed the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant against him as “bogus,” citing misconduct allegations against the court’s top prosecutor. He’s supposed to be the mayor of all New Yorkers — Jews, Christians, Muslims, everyone,
Netanyahu said on Fox News, accusing Mamdani of turning one group against the other.
Mamdani’s Call for Arrest and Legal Constraints
Mamdani, who ran on a platform of challenging Israel’s policies in Gaza, had previously pledged to direct New York City police to execute the ICC’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu. However, he acknowledged last week that the city lacks legal authority to detain the prime minister, instead urging federal intervention. I want to be equally clear, Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large,
Mamdani said in a video message, adding that the city would “always respect” public protests against the prime minister. The ICC has charged Netanyahu, his former defense minister, and the late leader of Hamas with crimes against humanity over the Gaza war, which began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
The mayor’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Netanyahu, however, framed Mamdani’s stance as part of a broader “polarizing” trend, citing rising antisemitism in the U.S. and declining bipartisan support for Israel. Jews feel very uncomfortable,
he said, calling the situation “wrong.” The prime minister also criticized progressive Democrats aligned with Mamdani, warning that their influence could erode U.S. backing for Israel. The whole thing is wrong,
he added.
Trump’s Assurance and U.N. Visit Plans
Trump assured Netanyahu in a social media post Monday that he will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America,
a statement that underscored the political tensions surrounding the prime minister’s U.S. trip. Netanyahu is expected in Washington this week to meet with Trump and attend funeral services for the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Graham, a leading defense hawk and strong supporter of Israel, died suddenly two weeks ago of a likely torn aorta. The prime minster called him an “extraordinary American patriot.”
The ICC’s arrest warrant remains unenforceable in the U.S., where the court has no jurisdiction. Netanyahu dismissed the charges as politically motivated, pointing to sexual misconduct allegations against the ICC’s top prosecutor, who was removed from that post on Friday, and said the warrant was an attempt to divert attention. The U.N. General Assembly, where Netanyahu plans to speak, is scheduled for September, with global leaders expected to debate the conflict in Gaza and broader Middle East tensions.
Stakes and Uncertainties Ahead
The standoff between Netanyahu and Mamdani highlights deepening divides over Israel’s actions in Gaza, with the mayor’s rhetoric reflecting growing pressure on U.S. officials to align with international legal frameworks. However, the lack of federal authority to enforce the ICC’s warrant leaves the situation in legal limbo. As Netanyahu prepares for his U.N. appearance, the focus will shift to how U.S. allies and critics navigate the conflict’s humanitarian toll, including the Palestinian territory’s Health Ministry saying over 73,000 people have been killed in Israel’s offensive — roughly half of them women and children.
With Trump’s endorsement of Netanyahu’s immunity and the ICC’s ongoing investigations, the coming months could test the limits of diplomatic and legal responses to the war. For now, the dispute underscores the geopolitical and moral complexities of the conflict, as well as the challenges of balancing national interests with international law.
Keep reading
