Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of deepening divisions after the mayor reiterated that the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant against the Israeli leader should be enforced if he visits the United States.
The dispute follows Mamdani’s recent remarks that Netanyahu is “not welcome” in New York and his call for the U.S. federal government to execute the ICC warrant issued against the Israeli prime minister over alleged war crimes linked to the Gaza conflict. Mamdani has also acknowledged that New York City itself does not have the legal authority to arrest a foreign head of government, but argued that federal authorities should act.
Responding during an interview on Fox News, Netanyahu said Mamdani was “fomenting hate” and accused the mayor of pitting communities against one another.
“He’s supposed to be the mayor of all New Yorkers; Jews, Christians, Muslims, everyone,” Netanyahu said. “But he’s trying to turn one group against the other.” He also dismissed the ICC’s allegations as “bogus” and confirmed that he still intends to travel to New York in September to address the United Nations General Assembly despite the controversy.
The exchange has intensified political tensions surrounding Netanyahu’s planned visit, with supporters and critics continuing to debate the legal and diplomatic implications of the ICC warrant.
The ICC issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, alleging responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Israel rejects the allegations, arguing that the court lacks jurisdiction and describing the charges as politically motivated. The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, and is therefore not legally obligated to enforce the court’s warrants.
Mamdani’s remarks have drawn mixed reactions across the U.S. political spectrum, with supporters praising his stance on international accountability while opponents accuse him of politicising the mayor’s office and inflaming tensions within New York City’s diverse communities.
