After more than two years of fighting in the Gaza Strip, a ceasefire agreement was allegedly reached in October. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is alleged to be shortening his stay in New York during his visit to the United States. He is not expected to stay overnight in the city, and his schedule is reportedly being reduced because of protests.
Israeli media reported that Netanyahu's plane will not land at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. Instead, it is planned to be diverted to a military base in New Jersey or Newark Airport.
The change to the flight plan was allegedly prompted by difficulties coordinating with U.S. authorities and concerns that New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani could order the plane to leave the airport without waiting for Netanyahu.
Under the previous schedule, Netanyahu was expected to arrive in New York on Wednesday, address the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday and then return to Israel. Under the alleged new plan, he will arrive in the United States on the morning of the day of his speech, address the United Nations General Assembly at 2 p.m. local time and then travel directly to Tel Aviv.
The planned meeting with American billionaire Elon Musk in Texas during the visit was reported to have been canceled. Netanyahu is also not expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Mamdani's position on Netanyahu
In July, Mamdani said he did not have the legal authority to enforce the arrest warrant issued for Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court. Saying that this authority rested with the federal government, Mamdani called on the U.S. administration to join the court and enforce the arrest warrant.
The New York mayor also said that Netanyahu and other people accused of committing war crimes had no place in New York.
Figures cited for Gaza allege that more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 174,000 people injured since October 2023.
