Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of ‘fomenting hate’ after Mamdani previously threatened to arrest him under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. Netanyahu plans to attend the UN General Assembly in New York City this autumn, despite the controversy.

Mayor Recants Arrest Threat

Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently retracted his threat to arrest Netanyahu, acknowledging he does not have the legal authority to enforce a warrant issued by the ICC. The court has accused Netanyahu of war crimes in Gaza, a charge he has dismissed as ‘bogus.’

Netanyahu’s Response and Recent Stabbings

Netanyahu addressed the issue on Fox News, stating he is ‘not concerned’ about Mamdani’s previous comments, but he criticized the mayor for ‘fomenting hate’ and argued Mamdani is not representing all New Yorkers. Netanyahu referenced recent stabbings in New York, where a suspect stabbed a Jewish man and an Asian man just blocks apart.

According to police, the suspect reportedly shouted ‘Allahu akbar’ during the attacks; he has been charged with hate crimes related to both victims; Both men survived the incidents, which prompted condemnation from Jewish and Asian American leaders in the city.

Netanyahu stated that Jewish New Yorkers are ‘afraid right now’ following the attacks; the mayor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Political Stance and Legal Context

Zohran Mamdani, a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights, made his opposition to Israel’s military actions in Gaza a central campaign issue, Last year, he called Netanyahu a ‘war criminal’ and pledged to enforce the 2024 ICC arrest warrant against the prime minister.

Israel has denied committing war crimes in Gaza — the conflict began after a Hamas-led attack in Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostage. In response. Israel launched a military operation in Gaza, where over 73,000 people have been killed, including more than 21,000 children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. The UN considers these figures reliable.

After being questioned by the New York Times, Mamdani stated his administration reviewed the law and found it lacks the ‘independent legal authority’ to enforce the ICC warrant. He urged the federal government to take action, reiterating that ‘Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City.’