Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that he will travel to New York City to address the United Nations, standing firm against an active International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant and sharp pushback from local leadership.
Appearing on the Fox News program Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, Netanyahu made his intentions clear regarding the upcoming summit.
“I intend to come and speak the truth, speak for Israel and for the Israeli-American alliance from the podium of the United Nations,” Netanyahu said.
During the interview, Netanyahu targeted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a prominent leftist figure who has been a vocal defender of Palestinian rights and previously advocated for Netanyahu’s arrest in the United States.
While Mamdani acknowledged that New York City lacks the legal jurisdiction to execute an international arrest warrant, his position has made him a frequent target for pro-Israel politicians.
“He’s fomenting hate. 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. I speak to Jewish Americans, and they’re afraid right now.”
Netanyahu went further, making unfounded claims regarding the mayor and his family regarding the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas that claimed approximately 1,100 lives.
“What Mamdani is supporting, his wife, his family, he celebrated the October 7th massacre, the worst massacre against Jews since the holocaust,” said Netanyahu.
“He’s supporting the Hamas murderers who raped our women, then beheaded them, burnt babies alive, and took innocent people hostages,” he added.
Although Hamas fighters killed scores of unarmed civilians and took captives on October 7, several specific reports amplified during the aftermath, including allegations of beheaded infants, have been repeatedly debunked.
Netanyahu’s fiery stance comes at a time when American public opinion regarding Israel appears to be undergoing a noticeable shift.
An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey revealed that roughly 44 percent of American Jewish adults view Mayor Mamdani favorably, compared to 39 percent who view him unfavorably.
In contrast, only about a third of American Jewish adults hold a favorable view of Netanyahu, with nearly 60 percent viewing him unfavorably and 30 percent indicating they believe Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.
Additionally, a YouGov poll showed that 46 percent of Americans believe Netanyahu should be arrested, compared to 28 percent who disagree.
The ICC issued arrest warrants for both Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024 over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Touching on broader regional conflict during the interview, Netanyahu also warned that any renewed military strikes on Israel by Iran would prove to be a “terrible mistake.”
