New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of committing war crimes during a Monday interview on CNN, calling him the “architect of a horrific genocide against Palestinians.” Mamdani’s remarks, made in response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza, have intensified a public dispute ahead of Netanyahu’s planned address to the United Nations on Thursday.
Netanyahu is expected to directly address Mamdani’s comments in his speech, framing the remarks as unfounded and politically motivated. A video statement released by Netanyahu this week accused Mamdani of supporting Hamas militants, a claim Mamdani has denied. The Israeli leader’s office confirmed plans to place 500 pro-Israel billboards and dozens of trucks with supportive messaging across Manhattan ahead of his visit, including the statement: “Freedom doesn’t defend itself. America and Israel stand together against terror.”
The escalating rhetoric comes as Israel prepares for a general election in five weeks, with polls suggesting Netanyahu’s long-standing leadership may be at risk. Former Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren characterized Netanyahu’s U.N. address as a campaign-style speech aimed at the Israeli public rather than the international body. Protests against Netanyahu are also planned in New York by opponents of his right-wing government.
Mamdani, who campaigned on a promise to pursue Netanyahu’s arrest during any visit to New York, later stated he lacked the legal authority to do so. His genocide accusation aligns with broader criticisms of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, which have drawn global scrutiny. Netanyahu has consistently rejected allegations of war crimes, asserting that Israel’s actions are in self-defense against Hamas.
The feud underscores the growing polarization surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict, with both figures leveraging the dispute to galvanize their respective bases. Netanyahu’s visit marks his first to New York since Mamdani took office in January, setting the stage for a high-profile confrontation during a period of heightened international tension.