What did Benjamin Netanyahu say about Hasan Piker? Israeli PM links streamer to Zohran Mamdani at UNGA speech

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly brought Twitch streamer Hasan Piker into his attack on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during his United Nations General Assembly speech on September 24. Netanyahu accused Mamdani of keeping company with people who support Hamas and pointed to Piker over his past comment about 9/11.

Benjamin Netanyahu named Hasan Piker while attacking Zohran Mamdani at the UN, reviving Piker’s controversial 9/11 comment during the speech.. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)Netanyahu also accused Mamdani of making Jewish New Yorkers feel unsafe and called him the “antisemitic mayor of New York.” The speech turned into a direct exchange over Israel, Gaza, antisemitism and Mamdani’s criticism of Netanyahu. Mamdani has rejected Netanyahu’s accusations, calling them “baseless lies.”

While speaking about Mamdani, Netanyahu said: “You count as friends people like Hasan Piker, who said America deserved 9/11. Some friends you have.” He also told Mamdani, “Shame on you for distorting the facts. Shame on you for inverting victim and aggressor. Shame on you for spitting in the face of truth.”

Netanyahu then turned to the wider Israel-Gaza dispute, saying: “Israel didn’t commit genocide. Israel prevented genocide.” He also accused Mamdani of falsely and repeatedly accusing Israel of genocide. These are Netanyahu’s claims; Mamdani has strongly opposed his description of Israel’s actions.

The comments came after months of tension between the two men. Mamdani has been a vocal critic of Netanyahu and had previously called him a “war criminal.” During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani also said he would seek Netanyahu’s arrest if he came to New York under an International Criminal Court warrant, although he later acknowledged that the city mayor does not have that legal power.

After the UN speech, Mamdani hit back at Netanyahu, describing his claims as “baseless lies.” The mayor has also said he opposes antisemitism and hate against any group.

Netanyahu’s reference to Hasan Piker focused on a controversial comment the streamer made in 2019. Piker later said the wording was inappropriate and explained that he was discussing the consequences, or “blowback,” of US foreign policy rather than saying victims of the attacks deserved to die.

Piker is a prominent political streamer who has repeatedly criticised Israel and Netanyahu. His public comments on Israel, Hamas and the October 7 attack have also added to the strong criticism. The 9/11 remark has continued to follow him, and it was cited again in coverage of his September 24 appearance at Cornell University.

Netanyahu’s mention of Piker placed a well-known online political figure inside a major diplomatic speech, while the Israeli prime minister used the UN platform to challenge Mamdani directly over his views on Israel and Gaza.

Sehjal Gupta is a Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times and is part of the US Desk. She covers a wide range of stories from the United States, including politics, sports, entertainment, breaking news, and major global developments. She enjoys working across different beats because every story brings a fresh perspective and an opportunity to explore something different. Before joining Hindustan Times, Sehjal was part of The Times of India, where she headed the International Sports and US Streamers team. She reported on international sports, athlete stories, streamer news, and major developments from around the world. The role gave her the opportunity to work on a diverse range of stories while leading coverage across two evolving news categories. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and believes the experience taught her the importance of staying organised, managing priorities, and adapting to new challenges. Over the years, she has reported on a variety of topics and enjoys taking on stories that keep her curious and encourage her to look beyond the obvious. Expertise: International news, International/US sports, and streamer coverage. Interests: Global affairs, geopolitics, politics, and entertainment. Outside work, Sehjal loves travelling, watching movies, and exploring new places to eat. She enjoys discovering new cultures and believes that some of the best stories and experiences come from stepping outside her comfort zone and exploring unfamiliar places.Read More