Netanyahu accuses NYC Mayor Mamdani of 'fomenting hate' after arrest threat - BBC

What the report says

BBC News reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he intends to attend the UN General Assembly in New York this autumn, despite earlier comments by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani about arresting him under an International Criminal Court warrant. Netanyahu told Fox News he was not worried by Mamdani’s former pledge and accused the mayor of “fomenting hate.”

According to the BBC, Mamdani recently retreated from the arrest threat after saying a legal review found City Hall did not have independent authority to enforce the ICC warrant. He nevertheless urged the US federal government to act and said Netanyahu was not welcome in New York City. Mamdani, described by the BBC as a strong advocate of Palestinian rights, had made criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza a major part of his campaign and called Netanyahu a war criminal.

The report said Netanyahu is flying to the US on Monday for a separate visit that includes a White House meeting with President Donald Trump on Tuesday and a funeral service for the late senator Lindsey Graham; New York is not part of that itinerary. Netanyahu also linked his criticism of Mamdani to fear among Jewish New Yorkers after police said a suspect was charged with hate crimes in two recent stabbings.

The dispute reflects wider tensions over the Gaza war, the ICC warrant and US-Israel politics. Israel denies committing war crimes in Gaza, while the BBC cited Gaza health ministry figures, treated as reliable by the UN, saying more than 73,000 people have been killed since Israel’s campaign began after the Hamas-led attack of 7 October 2023.