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Netanyahu heads to New York for UN session as Mamdani accuses him of genocide
New York Mayor Zahran Mamdani accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being a war criminal and the architect of genocide against the Palestinian people. Mamdani said New York City had no legal authority to enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu.
New York Mayor Zahran Mamdani accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being a “war criminal and the architect of a horrific genocide” against the Palestinian people before Netanyahu’s trip to the United States to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Speaking in a television interview, Mamdani said Netanyahu was expected to address the General Assembly on Friday.
Mamdani: Everyone must be held accountable
Mamdani said people subject to arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for violations of international law could not be treated as being above the law. “I believe everyone must be held accountable,” Mamdani said, adding that New York City had no legal authority to enforce the warrant against Netanyahu.
The New York mayor had previously said Netanyahu was not welcome in the city and called on the U.S. federal government to enforce the international arrest warrant.
Arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, Israel’s former defense minister, in November 2024. The court’s decision cited allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel and the United States are not parties to the International Criminal Court. The Washington administration also imposed sanctions on court officials over the proceedings involving Netanyahu.
Netanyahu’s New York schedule
Netanyahu is expected to arrive in the United States on the day of his speech and return to Tel Aviv afterward. Israeli media reported that his plane was scheduled to land at a military base in New Jersey or Newark Airport rather than John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
Israeli media also reported that Netanyahu had decided to shorten his visit to New York and not spend the night in the city because of protests expected to take place there.
Worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza
Approximately 74,000 Palestinians have been killed and about 175,000 wounded in the war in Gaza. Children and women make up most of those killed and wounded.
Israel has continued its attacks in Gaza despite the ceasefire declared on October 10, 2025, killing 1,394 Palestinians and wounding 4,839 during that period. The region has suffered widespread destruction, while the entry of food, medicine, medical supplies, shelter materials and prefabricated housing has also been restricted.
In Gaza, home to approximately 2.4 million Palestinians, 2.15 million people have been displaced and humanitarian conditions have deteriorated. The International Court of Justice is considering South Africa’s genocide case against Israel, which has been joined by several countries.
Debate over Palestine in the United States
Following the war in Gaza, numerous public opinion polls have shown growing support for Palestinian rights among the U.S. public, particularly young people. Despite this, successive U.S. administrations have provided Israel with military, financial and diplomatic support and helped shield it from international scrutiny by using their veto power at the United Nations Security Council.
Assessments of the process surrounding Israel’s establishment state that at least 750,000 Palestinians were displaced after 1948 and that United Nations resolutions concerning the establishment of a Palestinian state were not implemented.
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