NYC Jews, Israelis, anti-Zionists plan protests during Netanyahu visit to UN

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday his intention to condemn New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani during an upcoming United Nations General Assembly visit. Mamdani, a leftist critic of Israel's military operations in Gaza, had recently labeled Netanyahu a "war criminal" and an "architect of a horrific genocide" against Palestinians in a CNN interview.

In response, Netanyahu released a video on social media, accusing Mamdani of supporting Hamas and inciting riots against Jews in New York. The Israeli leader emphasized his commitment to revealing the truth about his soldiers and exposing Mamdani's actions. Mamdani, who described the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel as a "horrific war crime," has condemned violence against Jews in the United States.

He had previously considered arresting Netanyahu during the annual UN summit but ultimately could not do so. Netanyahu currently faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, though neither Israel nor the US recognizes the court, and visiting leaders typically enjoy immunity from US authorities. Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people and the kidnapping of 251 hostages, 44 of whom later died, according to Israeli officials.

Subsequent Israeli military actions have displaced the entire population of Gaza at least once and have led to the deaths of 73,919 Palestinians, as reported by the Gaza health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable. Netanyahu is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Thursday, amidst a close election race. His campaign recently displayed Mamdani alongside the Supreme Leader of Iran, the leader of Hezbollah, and the President of Turkey, implying they were conspiring against him.