Tensions Escalate Between Mamdani and Netanyahu in New York
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been involved in a war of words with New York Mayor Zohlar Mamdani. This friction has intensified ahead of Netanyahu’s arrival in New York.
According to reports on Wednesday (23/9/2026), Mamdani had previously mentioned considering attempts to have Netanyahu arrested while in New York during the annual UN Summit. However, he acknowledged that he is unable to carry out such an action.
Netanyahu is currently facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC). However, Israel and the United States do not recognise the court, and leaders visiting the UN generally enjoy legal immunity from US authorities.
Recently, Netanyahu posted a video mocking Mamdani, calling him shameful. “Your shameful actions are inciting riots against the Jewish residents of New York,” Netanyahu stated in the video uploaded on 22 September.
“I will come to the UN, I will tell the truth about our heroic soldiers, and I will tell the truth about you,” he added.
Mamdani himself described the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023 as ‘horrific war crimes’ and condemned violence against Jewish residents in New York. He also participated in the observance of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, in New York.
Netanyahu’s stay in New York is expected to be brief. His aircraft is also avoiding New York airports.
Reports from the prominent Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, as cited by Middle East Monitor on Wednesday (23/9/2026), indicate that Netanyahu’s plane will not land at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport during his visit to the US on Thursday (24/9) local time. This report emerges amid concerns that Mamdani might order the aircraft to depart immediately.
Netanyahu’s aircraft, the official Israeli state plane known as the ‘Wing of Zion’, is reported to land at a military base in New Jersey or Newark Liberty International Airport, also located in New Jersey.
Yedioth Ahronoth linked this decision to ‘difficulties in coordinating with US authorities’ and fears that Mamdani could order the Wing of Zion to take off immediately, preventing the plane from remaining at the airport while Netanyahu attends the UN General Assembly. Consequently, the plane is expected to land in New Jersey.
Netanyahu’s visit to New York has also been significantly shortened to less than 24 hours. CBS News reported that Netanyahu will arrive in the US in the morning, deliver a speech at the UN General Assembly, and then immediately fly back to Israel.
“Netanyahu has decided to significantly shorten his visit to New York and will not stay overnight due to concerns over protests,” stated sources familiar with the matter, as quoted by Yedioth Ahronoth.
Netanyahu is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Thursday (24/9) local time. He has also cancelled plans to stop in Texas to meet US billionaire Elon Musk.
“There are challenges in coordination, either due to the need to land for refueling or because the US side prefers not to coordinate at the last minute,” an Israeli source told Yedioth Ahronoth.
There has been no direct response from Israel or the US regarding these reports.
Mamdani has responded to Netanyahu’s mockery, asserting that he is not inciting riots targeting Jewish people and stating that Netanyahu’s claims are untrue.
“We all know that what the Prime Minister (Netanyahu) said in the video is not true,” said Mamdani.
The 24-year-old New York Mayor went further, calling Netanyahu the ‘architect of genocide’ against the Palestinian people. He also revisited the issue of the arrest warrant against Netanyahu.
“What we truly know as the truth regarding the Prime Minister is that he is the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity,” Mamdani stated, referring to Netanyahu.
“As Prime Minister, he is the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people, and just a few days ago, his military killed an 11-year-old boy in an area considered a safe zone in Gaza,” he added.