Netanyahu explicitly mentioned Mamdani...

Netanyahu singled out Mamdani during his speech Thursday, criticizing the mayor over his outspoken opposition to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and his previous statements about Netanyahu.

The Israeli prime minister accused Mamdani of spreading what he described as false claims about Israel and said the mayor’s criticism had contributed to an atmosphere in which Jewish New Yorkers feel less secure.

“Mr. Mamdani,” Netanyahu said during the address, before directly challenging the New York mayor over his criticism of Israel and his attempts to address Netanyahu’s visit.

The confrontation comes after Mamdani repeatedly described Netanyahu as a war criminal and criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza, including allegations of genocide against Palestinians.

Netanyahu rejected those accusations, defending Israel’s conduct and arguing that the country’s military campaign was aimed at preventing another attack similar to Hamas’ October 7, 2023 assault.

The Israeli leader also referred to Mamdani’s earlier position regarding an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued for Netanyahu in 2024.

Mamdani had previously said he would seek to have Netanyahu arrested if the mayor’s office had the legal authority to do so. A subsequent legal review found that New York City did not possess such authority.

The mayor has instead urged the federal government to address the ICC warrant and has continued to criticize Netanyahu over Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

During his UN speech, Netanyahu accused Mamdani of attempting to silence him by opposing his presence in New York during the General Assembly.

“You tried to silence me,” Netanyahu said, arguing that Mamdani could not prevent him from speaking before the international body.

The dispute became one of the most politically charged moments of Netanyahu’s approximately 40-minute address, which focused largely on Israel’s wars and its international critics.

Netanyahu also accused Mamdani of associating with individuals whose statements or positions he said were hostile toward Israel and Jewish communities.

Mamdani has rejected accusations of antisemitism and has repeatedly said his criticism of Israel is directed at government policy and military actions rather than Jewish people.

Following Netanyahu’s address, Mamdani responded by accusing the Israeli prime minister of repeating what he called “baseless lies” about his position and Israel’s actions in Gaza.

The mayor also pointed to the ICC proceedings involving Netanyahu, while Israel has rejected the allegations against its prime minister and challenged the court’s jurisdiction.

The confrontation occurred as dozens of UN delegations left the General Assembly chamber shortly before or during Netanyahu’s speech, creating a highly visible protest inside the United Nations.

Outside the UN headquarters, hundreds of demonstrators also gathered as police prepared for protests surrounding Netanyahu’s appearance and the wider debate over the Gaza war.

The Netanyahu-Mamdani dispute reflects a broader political divide in New York and internationally over Israel, Palestinian statehood, the Gaza war and the role of international legal institutions.

For Netanyahu, the UN appearance provided an international platform to defend Israel’s military actions and directly answer one of his most outspoken critics in New York.

For Mamdani, the confrontation has become part of his broader criticism of Netanyahu and his stated support for Palestinian rights and accountability for alleged violations of international law.

The exchange between the two leaders is likely to keep their political dispute in the spotlight as debates over Gaza, Israel and U.S. policy continue across New York and Washington.