Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he plans to travel to New York in September to address the United Nations General Assembly, setting the stage for a potential confrontation with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has previously said the Israeli leader should be arrested under an International Criminal Court warrant.

Netanyahu’s announcement comes amid a growing political dispute over his possible visit to the city and Mamdani’s position on the ICC arrest warrant issued against the Israeli prime minister. The controversy has brought questions surrounding international law, US federal authority and the responsibilities of New York’s mayor into the centre of a wider political debate.

In a recent interview, Netanyahu said he intended to appear before the United Nations and use the platform to present Israel’s position to the international community. He said his objective would be to “speak the truth” on behalf of Israel and discuss the country’s relationship with the United States.

The Israeli prime minister also rejected the allegations made against him by the International Criminal Court, describing the war crimes charges as baseless. His comments came after Mamdani publicly maintained that Netanyahu should face arrest and trial in accordance with the ICC’s warrant.

The disagreement between the two leaders has intensified since Mamdani, during his mayoral campaign, said he would support efforts to enforce the ICC warrant if Netanyahu travelled to New York. Mamdani argued that individuals facing such international legal action should not be treated differently because of their political position.

At the same time, Mamdani acknowledged that the New York City government does not possess independent legal authority to arrest Netanyahu. He therefore called on the US federal government to take responsibility for enforcing the international warrant.

Mamdani has also said that Netanyahu would not be welcome in New York City, describing him as a war crimes suspect and arguing that the city should not provide a safe political environment for individuals facing such charges.

Netanyahu has strongly criticised the mayor’s position. He accused Mamdani of aligning himself with Hamas and alleged that the mayor’s political stance amounted to support for those responsible for the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Mamdani has rejected such characterisations of his position and has previously called for greater accountability in the Israel-Gaza conflict.

The Israeli leader also questioned Mamdani’s approach to governing New York, arguing that the mayor should represent residents across religious and ethnic communities rather than deepen divisions between them.

Netanyahu further accused Mamdani of contributing to an atmosphere of hostility towards Jewish residents in the city. He claimed that Jewish Americans in New York were increasingly concerned about their safety and argued that political rhetoric surrounding Israel could have consequences for the city’s social climate.

His remarks came in the aftermath of a violent incident on Manhattan’s Upper West Side in which two men were allegedly attacked in separate incidents. Authorities charged a 51-year-old man with two counts of attempted murder in the second degree as hate crimes.

According to prosecutors’ allegations, one of the victims was an Asian man who was reportedly attacked from behind. The suspect was also accused of attacking a Jewish man wearing a kippah after he had left a synagogue. The incidents have intensified concerns over hate-motivated violence in New York, although the circumstances surrounding the attacks remain a matter for the criminal justice system.

Netanyahu referred to the stabbing of the Jewish man while criticising Mamdani’s comments, suggesting that the incident demonstrated the potential dangers of inflammatory political rhetoric. However, any direct connection between the mayor’s remarks and the alleged attacks has not been established by authorities.

The dispute has also highlighted a complicated legal question. While the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes, the practical enforcement of such a warrant in the United States remains politically and legally contentious. The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute that established the ICC, and the issue of whether local authorities could act on such a warrant has been the subject of significant debate.

For Mamdani, the issue has become part of his broader political position on the Israel-Gaza conflict and international accountability. For Netanyahu, the controversy represents what he views as an attempt to delegitimise Israel and restrict his ability to speak publicly on behalf of the country.

The planned UN appearance could therefore bring the dispute into sharper focus. If Netanyahu travels to New York as stated, his visit is likely to attract significant political attention, particularly because of Mamdani’s earlier comments and the broader debate over the ICC warrant.

The disagreement also reflects a larger divide within American politics and public opinion over the Israel-Gaza conflict. While supporters of Netanyahu argue that the ICC proceedings are politically motivated and unfairly target Israel’s leadership, critics maintain that international legal institutions must be able to investigate alleged violations regardless of the political status of those accused.

As September approaches, Netanyahu’s planned visit is expected to remain a closely watched issue. The possibility of his appearance at the United Nations, combined with the mayor’s opposition to his presence in New York, could create a politically charged situation involving international law, diplomatic relations and the limits of municipal authority.

The controversy is also likely to keep attention focused on the relationship between New York City officials and the federal government. While the mayor has expressed a clear political position, questions over enforcement of an international arrest warrant ultimately extend beyond the authority of City Hall.

For now, Netanyahu has made clear that he intends to come to New York and address the UN General Assembly. Whether his visit leads to further confrontation with Mamdani or becomes a broader test of US policy towards the ICC remains to be seen.