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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani fired back at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday after the Israeli leader accused him of supporting Hamas terrorists and inciting unrest against Jewish New Yorkers, escalating their long-running feud days before Netanyahu is expected in the city.
When asked by reporters about Netanyahu’s video, Mamdani rejected the prime minister’s accusations.
“We all know that what the prime minister has said in that video is not true,” Mamdani said. “What we do know to actually be the truth when it comes to the prime minister is that he is the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
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A split image shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and New York City Democratic Socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, right, who said on ’ The Story that he would arrest Netanyahu if the Israeli leader visited the city. (Getty Images, )
The ICC issued the arrest warrant in November 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, but Netanyahu and the Israeli government have rejected the allegations and challenged the court’s actions.
Mamdani went further, leveling additional accusations against the Israeli leader days before he is slated to speak at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“And as the prime minister, he is the architect of horrific genocide against Palestinians,” Mamdani asserted. “And just a few days ago, his military killed an 11-year-old boy in what is deemed to be a safe zone in Gaza. So that is what I have to say to his video.”
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A split image shows New York City Democratic Socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right. (Getty Images)
The mayor was responding to comments Netanyahu made earlier Tuesday in a video pledging to “tell the truth” about Mamdani when he speaks at the U.N.
“Shame on you, Mr. Mamdani. Shame on you for supporting the Hamas terrorist monsters who butchered our people. Shame on you for inciting riots against New York Jews,” Netanyahu said in the video posted to X.
“I’m coming to the U.N. I am going to tell the truth about our heroic soldiers, and I’m going to tell you the truth about you,” he added.
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New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks during a Wednesday interview on ’ The Story with Martha MacCallum, where he discussed the Gaza ceasefire and said he would uphold an International Criminal Court warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. ()
The exchange is the latest chapter in an ongoing public feud between the two leaders and comes as Netanyahu prepares to visit the city Mamdani leads.
Earlier this year, Mamdani explored whether New York City could execute the ICC warrant against Netanyahu — an issue he had campaigned on — before acknowledging that the city could not enforce the warrant on its own.
Mamdani has previously called Netanyahu a “war criminal” and an “architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people.” He also said over the summer that Netanyahu was “not welcome” in New York City.
“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 at the time.
Mamdani has also defended New Yorkers’ right to protest during Netanyahu’s visit, though he has said he is not encouraging them to demonstrate.
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President Donald Trump meets with NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani inside Gracie Mansion on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. (Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @NYCMayor)
When asked in July what New Yorkers frustrated with Netanyahu should do when the Israeli leader visited the city, Mamdani pointed to protest as an option.
“One of the bedrocks of our city is protest,” Mamdani said. “It is something that has been a part of what makes our city so special, that New Yorkers can express themselves whether they are in support or in opposition no matter on whatever topic.”
More recently, Mamdani clarified that he had no plans to participate in protests surrounding Netanyahu’s visit and said he had not encouraged New Yorkers to demonstrate.
“To New Yorkers, I have never encouraged them to protest,” Mamdani said last week. “What I have always told them is that they have the right to do so in the city.”
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Following Mamdani’s meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday, the mayor was also asked whether he discussed Netanyahu with the president.
Mamdani said their conversation remained focused on New York City and New Yorkers. The mayor’s office said after Monday’s meeting that Mamdani and Trump discussed issues affecting the city, including affordability and economic development.
“And when it comes to the prime minister, though, I’ve made very clear where I stand on that,” Mamdani said.
Digital’s Greg Norman-Diamond contributed to this report.
