Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of "fomenting hate" following the mayor’s statement that he would honour an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Netanyahu if the prime minister visited New York. The warrant relates to alleged war crimes committed during Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

Mamdani, who is New York City’s first Muslim mayor, initially pledged to arrest Netanyahu should he set foot in the city. However, he later acknowledged that the city government lacks the legal authority to enforce the ICC warrant, as the United States is not a party to the ICC. The mayor has been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, describing the ongoing conflict as a genocide.

Netanyahu downplayed the threat, saying he was not concerned and reaffirmed his plans to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York this autumn. Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu accused Mamdani of attempting to divide New Yorkers along religious lines. He referenced a recent incident in New York in which a man reportedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" before allegedly stabbing a Jewish man and an Asian man, suggesting that Jewish residents were currently living in fear.

In an interview with a major newspaper, Mamdani described Netanyahu as a "war criminal" and asserted that he should face trial at The Hague. The mayor’s comments have drawn sharp criticism from Netanyahu, who insists his focus remains on attending international diplomatic events despite the controversy.

Netanyahu is also scheduled to travel to Washington for a meeting with President Donald Trump later this week. The tensions between the Israeli leader and the New York City mayor highlight the increasingly fraught political discourse surrounding Israel’s policies and the administration of international justice.