Mayor Mamdani Responds to Criticism from Netanyahu

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently shared his reaction to being criticized by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a United Nations General Assembly address. In a conversation with podcaster Theo Von, Mamdani described feeling “strange” after Netanyahu called him out.

Von asked, “Was that weird? Was that scary?” Mamdani replied, “It was strange. I was meeting with the prime minister of the Netherlands at the LGBTQ center in Manhattan. Then I hear about the comments Netanyahu made at the U.N.”

During his speech, Netanyahu accused Mamdani of spreading misinformation about Israel. “To all those spreading these lies about my country and our soldiers, whether they sit in this hall or in the office of the antisemitic mayor of New York, I say: Shame on you,” Netanyahu said.

Mamdani had previously pledged to arrest Netanyahu, supported by a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes. Although the Israeli government disputes these allegations, Mamdani has advocated for the U.S. to align with the ICC’s actions.

Von questioned, “If you had your say, we would have arrested the guy, you think?” Mamdani answered, “If I had my say, the U.S. government would join the ICC and honor all of its warrants.”

Reflecting on the incident, Mamdani remarked that Netanyahu’s comments seemed like an attempt to deflect attention. “It’s not about me and him. It’s about his role in genocide,” Mamdani said.

The conversation highlighted the ongoing tensions and differing views between Mamdani and Netanyahu. The situation continues to generate discussion and media coverage.