Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani of inciting hatred against the city's Jewish community and creating an atmosphere of fear. Netanyahu's accusation came after Mamdani referred to the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant and called him a 'war criminal'.
The Israeli prime minister said he found the mayor's remarks 'shameful' and argued that such statements target the Jewish community. Netanyahu also pointed to a stabbing incident at a synagogue that occurred after Mamdani's comments.
Mamdani, in an earlier statement, had argued that Netanyahu should be arrested under international law for his military operations in Gaza and called on New York to take steps in that direction.
Despite all the controversy, Netanyahu added that he would not postpone his planned visit to New York in September.
The tension between the sides escalated at a time when debates over antisemitism are intensifying in the US. According to data from civil society organizations, anti-Jewish violence worldwide reached its highest level in three decades in 2025, with 20 people killed in Western countries.