WASHINGTON (TNND) — A growing public feud between New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu escalated Sunday after Netanyahu accused the mayor of “fomenting hate” over calls to arrest him if he visits New York this fall under an International Criminal Court warrant.
The exchange comes as Netanyahu says he still plans to attend the United Nations General Assembly in September despite Mamdani’s repeated criticism. The Israeli leader is also scheduled to travel to Washington on Tuesday to attend the funeral of Sen. Lindsey Graham before meeting with President Trump at the White House.
Mamdani’s criticism of Netanyahu dates back to his mayoral campaign, when he repeatedly argued the Israeli prime minister should be arrested if he came to New York. Last week, Mamdani renewed those calls in anticipation of Netanyahu’s expected U.N. visit, while acknowledging New York City itself does not have the legal authority to carry out such an arrest.
In a video released by the mayor’s office, Mamdani called Netanyahu “a war criminal” and urged supporters to continue speaking out over the war in Gaza, saying, “While we cannot end the genocide on our own, we can decide if our silence will become another weapon, and we can examine every tool we have to defend the humanity and dignity of all people.”
Netanyahu responded during a television interview, accusing Mamdani of fueling division in the city.
“Look at what he’s doing,” Netanyahu said. “He’s fomenting hate. He’s supposed to be the mayor of all New Yorkers — Jews, Christians, Muslims, everyone. But he’s trying to turn one group against the other.”
The dispute has also drawn reactions outside politics. NBA forward Kyle Kuzma criticized Mamdani in a post on X, writing that the mayor was “cosplaying” as president with what he called an “empty threat” to arrest Netanyahu and accusing him of doing it “just for content.”
Netanyahu also argued the mayor’s rhetoric has contributed to growing fears within New York’s Jewish community. During the same interview, he pointed to last week’s stabbing outside a Manhattan synagogue, saying he did not believe the timing was accidental.
Police said the suspect allegedly stabbed a Jewish man leaving a synagogue before also attacking an Asian man nearby. Both victims are expected to recover. The suspect remains in custody and has been charged with attempted murder as a hate crime.
Netanyahu’s meeting with President Trump is expected to focus on the conflict with Iran, the war in Gaza and broader U.S.-Israel security cooperation.
