Netanyahu vs Mamdani explodes before UN General Assembly: “I will tell the truth about you” | Today’s news
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu escalated his public clash with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday (22 September), accusing the mayor of supporting Hamas and inciting riots against Jewish New Yorkers and vowing to address the dispute during his upcoming address to the United Nations General Assembly.
Netanyahu is due to address the UN General Assembly on Thursday, a visit that comes amid continued international scrutiny of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and rising tensions between him and Mamdani over the conflict.
Netanyahu: “I will tell the truth about you”
In a video posted on social media, Netanyahu directly addressed Mamdani, accusing him of supporting Hamas and inciting riots against Jews in New York.
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Netanyahu accused Mayor Mamdani of supporting Hamas and inciting riots against Jewish New Yorkers during a video address and said he would reveal the truth about Mamdani during his address to the UN General Assembly.
The conflict is significant because it highlights differing views on Israel’s military actions in Gaza, with Netanyahu expected to defend the actions at the UN General Assembly under international scrutiny.
Mamdani dismissed Netanyahu’s allegations as untrue and highlighted the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The dispute comes against a backdrop of continued tensions following a Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 that resulted in significant casualties and prompted Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Mamdani has said he does not plan to participate in any protests surrounding Netanyahu’s visit, although he acknowledges the historic tradition of protests in New York.
“Shame on you, Mr. Mamdani,” Netanyahu said, accusing the mayor of supporting Hamas and “inciting riots against the Jews of New York.”
“I am coming to the UN. I will tell the truth about our heroic soldiers and I will tell you the truth about yourselves,” Netanyahu said.
The comments came after Mamdani renewed his criticism of Netanyahu in an interview with CNN, calling the Israeli prime minister a “war criminal” and accusing him of being responsible for what he called genocide against the Palestinians.
Mamdani hits back at Netanyahu
Asked about Netanyahu’s video on Tuesday, Mamdani rejected the Israeli prime minister’s accusations.
“Well, we all know that what the prime minister said in that video is not true,” Mamdani said, according to the material provided.
Mamdani pointed to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu, saying the Israeli prime minister is accused by the court of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
He also criticized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and referred to the reported killing of an 11-year-old boy in an area designated as a safe zone.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024 for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel rejects the court’s jurisdiction, while the United States is also not a member of the ICC.
Mamdani had earlier called for Netanyahu’s arrest
The dispute has been building for months.
During his mayoral campaign and after taking office, Mamdani said Netanyahu should face an ICC arrest warrant if he visits New York. He later acknowledged that New York City did not have independent legal authority to enforce the warrant and said the federal government would have to act.
Mamdani also said that New York has a long tradition of protests and that people should be able to demonstrate for or against issues while exercising their First Amendment rights.
However, he said he did not plan to participate in the protests surrounding Netanyahu’s visit.
Why Netanyahu and Mamdani clash
Mamdani has been a prominent critic of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and has repeatedly condemned Netanyahu’s government.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, portrayed Mamdani as enemies of Israel. The confrontation has now shifted to the UN General Assembly setting, where Netanyahu is expected to defend Israel’s military actions and challenge criticism of the country.
The war between Israel and Gaza forms the background of the disputes
The confrontation comes nearly three years after an October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel that killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures cited by Reuters. Israel subsequently launched a military campaign in Gaza. Gaza medics report more than 73,000 Palestinians dead, while Israel says its operations are targeting Hamas and rejects accusations of genocide.
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