Netanyahu expected to confront Mamdani in UN address

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to use his address to the UN General Assembly on Thursday to respond to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has called him a war criminal.

In a video statement earlier this week, Netanyahu addressed Mamdani directly, saying he would go to New York to speak about Israel’s soldiers and “the truth” about the mayor. Netanyahu also accused Mamdani of supporting Hamas, a claim for which the report provides no supporting evidence.

Mamdani had campaigned on a pledge to seek Netanyahu’s arrest over alleged war crimes if he visited New York, but later acknowledged that he did not have the legal authority to make such an arrest. This week, he described Netanyahu as the “architect” of what he called genocide against Palestinians.

Netanyahu, who rejects allegations of war crimes, is visiting New York for the first time since Mamdani became mayor in January. Anti-Netanyahu protesters from Israel are also expected to demonstrate during the visit.

Ahead of the UN speech, Netanyahu’s government placed 500 pro-Israel and anti-Iran billboards and dozens of message-bearing trucks across Manhattan, according to his office.

Netanyahu’s UN speech is also taking place about five weeks before Israel’s October 27 general election. Opinion polls have indicated that his long tenure in power could be challenged. Former Israeli ambassador Michael Oren said the address could resemble a campaign speech aimed more at Israeli voters than the UN.

Netanyahu is making a brief US visit, arriving in New York in the morning and planning to return to Israel the same day after his afternoon speech. His schedule includes meetings with several foreign leaders, while his office has not confirmed any meeting with US officials.

He is not expected to meet US President Donald Trump. The two leaders jointly launched a war against Iran on February 28, but later disagreed over an interim ceasefire between Washington and Tehran that Netanyahu opposed.

The lack of a meeting with Trump so close to Israel’s election could carry political significance, according to Israeli foreign-policy expert Nimrod Goren.

During his UN appearances, Netanyahu has frequently defended Israel, warned about Iran and confronted international criticism. Analysts expect him to follow a similar approach this time while highlighting his government’s achievements and its relationship with Trump and the United States.

Israel has faced increasing diplomatic criticism since its war in Gaza began following the Hamas-led attacks on Israel nearly three years ago. Netanyahu also faces restrictions on international travel because of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued in 2024 against him, his former defence minister and a then-Hamas military commander.

Earlier this month, Britain, France and Canada announced sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank, drawing a limited response from Washington.