Ahead of UN Visit, Netanyahu Goes After Mamdani

Benjamin Netanyahu is picking a fight in New York before he even lands. In a video posted on social media Tuesday, days ahead of his UN General Assembly speech, the Israeli prime minister addressed New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani with "shame on you," accusing him of backing "Hamas terrorist monsters" and "inciting riots against New York Jews," per Politico. He added that he was headed to the UN on Thursday and would "tell the truth about you."

Mamdani, a vocal advocate for Palestinian statehood, rejected the claims at a Tuesday press conference, noting he has labeled Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel "a horrific war crime." But he also pointed to Netanyahu's own record, citing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and calling him "the architect of a horrific genocide against Palestinians," echoing a statement made to CNN on Monday. He said children continue to be killed in Gaza's so-called safe zones. Mamdani previously pledged to honor the ICC warrant if Netanyahu visited New York City, a promise he later acknowledged he lacks the authority to carry out.