Netanyahu Accuses NYC Mayor of 'Fomenting Hate' Amid Arrest Threat

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of "fomenting hate" after Mamdani previously threatened to arrest Netanyahu under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. Mamdani later acknowledged he lacked the legal authority to carry out such an arrest. Netanyahu, who plans to attend the UN General Assembly in New York this autumn, told Fox News that Mamdani's rhetoric is dividing New Yorkers and making Jewish residents feel unsafe. The Israeli leader referenced recent stabbings in New York, where a suspect allegedly shouted "Allahu akbar" while attacking a Jewish man and an Asian man. Both victims survived, and the suspect was charged with hate crimes. Mamdani, a staunch supporter of Palestinian rights, has called Netanyahu a "war criminal" and previously pledged to enforce the ICC warrant. Israel denies allegations of war crimes in Gaza, where its military entered after a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Over 73,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to reports. NBA player Kyle Kuzma criticized Mamdani's remarks, calling him a "mayor playing president" and accusing him of performative politics. Mamdani's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.