Netanyahu uses UN speech to target Zohran Mamdani over Gaza criticism
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday to accuse New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani of endangering Jewish residents with his criticism of Israel's military actions in Gaza. Netanyahu said Mamdani had spread lies about Israel and described him as "the antisemitic mayor of New York".
The remarks are the latest exchange between Netanyahu and Mamdani, New York City's first Muslim mayor, who has been a vocal critic of Israel's actions in Gaza. Mamdani has called Netanyahu a "war criminal" and "the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people", while also saying that his criticism of Israel and support for Palestinian rights do not amount to antisemitism.
Addressing the UN, Netanyahu said, "Mr Mamdani, since you were elected mayor of this city, many Jews no longer feel safe in New York. They talk to me, they tell me this isn't the city we remember, it changed so quickly." He also said, "Mr Mamdani, you tried to stop me from coming here. You tried to silence me. Well, you can't silence me and you can't silence the truth."
During his mayoral campaign last year, Mamdani had said he would direct police in New York to execute an arrest warrant against Netanyahu issued by the International Criminal Court. He later acknowledged that the city does not have the authority to take him into custody. Since then, the mayor has urged the federal government to arrest Netanyahu, though US President Donald Trump has said the prime minister will not be arrested.
Mamdani met Trump in New York this week. In his speech on Thursday, Netanyahu praised the US president for backing Israel, saying, "we've had no greater partner than President Trump." Mamdani's office did not immediately comment on Netanyahu's speech.
The speech at the UN brought the public dispute between Netanyahu and Mamdani back into focus, with Netanyahu accusing the mayor of making Jewish New Yorkers feel unsafe and Mamdani maintaining his criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza.
