Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he still plans to travel to New York in September for the U.N. General Assembly, despite criticism from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The dispute has drawn attention because Mamdani has argued that Netanyahu should face arrest under an International Criminal Court warrant tied to allegations over the Gaza war.
Netanyahu responded by sharply criticizing Mamdani, accusing him of encouraging hostility by promoting what he described as false war-crimes claims. His comments frame the conflict not only as an international legal and diplomatic fight, but also as a political confrontation playing out in one of the world's most visible cities.
The clash adds another layer to the already contentious debate around Israel's war in Gaza and the global reaction to it. With the annual gathering of world leaders set for Manhattan, Netanyahu's insistence that he will attend suggests he does not intend to alter his plans in response to local political pressure.
As the September U.N. meeting approaches, the focus is likely to remain on whether Netanyahu's New York visit proceeds as planned and how the legal and political arguments around the trip continue to escalate. The exchange with Mamdani underscores how the Gaza conflict is shaping political battles well beyond the region itself.
