Full Breakdown
Netanyahu Vows UN Appearance While Accusing New York Mayor of “Fomenting Hate”
7/27/2026, 12:53:02 AM
Core Event
On July 14, 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News that he will travel to New York in September to address the United Nations General Assembly, despite an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant. In the same interview he labeled New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani “fomenting hate” for calling the prime minister a war criminal and saying he should be arrested if he visits the city.
Background & Context
The ICC issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza, a conflict ignited by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed roughly 1,100 Israelis. Netanyahu has repeatedly dismissed the warrants as “bogus” and has warned that any renewed Iranian attacks on Israel would be a “terrible mistake.”
Mayor Mamdani, who campaigned on ordering the city’s police to enforce the ICC warrant, later clarified that New York lacks legal authority to arrest a foreign head of state and urged federal officials to act instead.
Official Statements & Responses
He also claimed Mamdani and his family “celebrated the October 7th massacre,” a statement that fact-checkers have identified as false.
Data & Statistics
- An AP-NORC poll of more than 1,000 U.S. Jewish adults found 44 % view Mamdani “somewhat” or “very” favorably, while 39 % view him unfavorably.
- The same poll showed only about 33 % hold a favourable view of Netanyahu, with 60 % expressing an unfavourable opinion.
- A YouGov poll published this week reported 46 % of U.S. respondents believe Netanyahu should be arrested, compared with 28 % who disagree.
What’s Next
Netanyahu has confirmed his intention to appear at the UN in September, despite the outstanding ICC warrant. Mamdani has reiterated that while he cannot order an arrest, he will continue to call on federal authorities to enforce the warrant if the prime minister sets foot in the city.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He’s supposed to be the mayor of all New Yorkers — Jews, Christians, Muslims, everyone,” — Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, israeli prime minister
- “I intend to come and speak the truth – speak for Israel and for the Israeli-American alliance from the podium of the United Nations,” — Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, israeli prime minister
- “What Mamdani is supporting – his wife, his family – he celebrated the October 7th massacre, the worst massacre against Jews since the holocaust,” — Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, israeli prime minister
- “He’s fomenting hate. He’s supposed to be the mayor of all New Yorkers – Jews, Christians, Muslims, everyone,” — Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, israeli prime minister
