Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday that he intends to visit New York City in September, despite opposition from Mayor Mamdani, who has called for his arrest over alleged war crimes in Gaza. The visit is expected to coincide with the United Nations General Assembly.

In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Netanyahu reaffirmed his plans to attend the UN gathering, responding to Mamdani’s recent statement that Netanyahu is “not welcome” in New York due to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2024. Netanyahu described Mamdani’s comments as “hate-spewing” and accused the mayor of sowing division among New Yorkers, particularly by turning his supporters against the city’s Jewish community.

Netanyahu criticized the ICC’s warrant, calling the organization “corrupt” and “evil” and dismissing the charges against him as a “big lie.” He also drew a comparison to historical episodes of discrimination, rhetorically asking if the city has returned to the 1930s, a period marked by widespread antisemitism.

Mayor Mamdani has publicly condemned Netanyahu as a “war criminal” in connection with the Gaza conflict but acknowledged in a video statement on July 21 that he lacks the legal authority to detain Netanyahu if he travels to New York. The mayor, aligned with pro-Palestinian and socialist perspectives, called on the U.S. government to enforce the ICC warrant and arrest Netanyahu, despite the fact that the United States does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction.

The situation underscores ongoing tensions around international legal actions linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the differing views within the U.S. regarding the role and authority of the ICC. Netanyahu’s planned trip highlights the challenges posed by local political opposition to his presence, while he remains committed to using the platform of the UN General Assembly to present his narrative.