Netanyahu Plans Brief UN Visit After Mamdani Urges Arrest

CAMEROON – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will make a rapid 24-hour visit to New York this month to address the annual United Nations gathering of world leaders, a trip Israel’s U.N. ambassador said Tuesday is necessary after the city’s mayor called for Netanyahu’s arrest over the war in Gaza.

Ambassador Danny Danon accused Mayor Zohran Mamdani of “doing politics” after Mamdani described the Israeli leader as a “war criminal” and urged that he be arrested. The mayor later had to pull back the call, as New York City does not have the legal authority to take Netanyahu into custody.

“You know, it became very trendy to do politics by blaming Israel,” Danon said, underscoring that Netanyahu’s appearance at the U.N. General Assembly remains a priority for Israel. “For us, it’s important the prime minister will come,” he added.

Netanyahu has become a deeply divisive figure internationally as Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza continues. Mamdani’s office did not immediately respond Tuesday to requests for comment. The mayor has cited the arrest warrant issued in November 2024 by the world’s leading war crimes court against Netanyahu, which accused him and another Israeli official of crimes against humanity.

The International Criminal Court warrant said there were grounds to believe Netanyahu used “starvation as a weapon of warfare” by limiting humanitarian aid and deliberately targeting civilians during Israel’s military campaign against Hamas. Israel has denied the allegations.

While New York City does not have legal authority to execute an ICC arrest warrant, Mamdani has encouraged the federal government to do so. The U.S. and Israel are not members of the court, and the Trump administration has imposed a series of sanctions on ICC staffers in a campaign to dismantle the tribunal.

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Netanyahu is scheduled to arrive in New York late on Sept. 23, address the U.N. General Assembly the afternoon of Sept. 24 and fly back to Israel that night, Danon said.

Danon noted that the meeting of leaders from the 193 U.N. member nations is taking place during the Jewish holidays and an election campaign as Netanyahu tries to keep his job as prime minister.

Danon said protests against Netanyahu would “create more chaos” on New York streets during the high-level meetings the week of Sept. 22-28.

Last year, there was a mass walkout from the U.N. General Assembly hall when Netanyahu started to speak from the podium. This year, Danon said, “I expect that there will be something like another show.”

But the ambassador said Netanyahu is experienced, “and I’m sure he will deliver his speech despite those attempts.”