Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, on Wednesday sharply criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, calling him a «clown» after the mayor demanded that federal authorities arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he arrives in New York for the UN General Assembly in September. Danon dismissed the call as a baseless political stunt that distracts from the mayor's actual responsibilities.
«Those baseless remarks about harassing the prime minister — it's a joke, and he's a clown,» Danon told Fox News Digital. «Everyone knows it's a show. It's a stunt.» Danon added that a mayor should focus on local issues such as homelessness and garbage collection, not foreign affairs. «He should take care of the security of the people in New York, especially the Jewish community, which is seeing the rise of antisemitism. That is his first responsibility.»
Mamdani, who took office as New York City mayor earlier this year, released a video on the official Mayor's Office YouTube channel on July 21 titled «Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal.» In the video, Mamdani accused Netanyahu of being «the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people» and repeated allegations he had made in an interview with The New York Times. He claimed Netanyahu was «responsible for the killing of more than 73,000 people, for the maiming of tens of thousands of children, as those who survive undergo amputation without anesthesia.» Mamdani also alleged that Netanyahu targeted neonatal hospitals and maternity care centers and blocked food and humanitarian aid.
«Just last month, the U.N. confirmed that Palestinian children continue to be deliberately targeted and killed by Israeli armed forces, more than eight months after the so-called ceasefire,» Mamdani said. «All as we, as Americans, pay for the bombs that do the killing. There is a reason the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest.»
Danon pushed back forcefully against the accusations. «There is a lot of humanitarian aid coming into Gaza every day,» he argued. «Nobody speaks about those issues anymore, but he wants to resume spreading blood libels, promoting the claims of genocide, starvation and all those lies that were spread by him, by his wife and by other people during the war.» Danon added that «today there are no humanitarian issues in Gaza» and accused Mamdani of continuing to promote «blood libels against Israel and against the Jews.»
Mamdani acknowledged that City Hall cannot unilaterally enforce the ICC warrant. «It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant. The federal government, however, does, and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant,» Mamdani said. «Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large.»
Israeli officials strongly deny all charges. Netanyahu's office has rejected the ICC's jurisdiction, labeling it «a kangaroo court that has no jurisdiction over Americans or Israelis.» Danon echoed that sentiment, noting that the United States is not a party to the ICC. «People are smart; they know there's no legal basis for his remarks,» Danon said. «The U.S. is not part of the ICC. There is no warrant that is actually effective against the prime minister in the U.S. So it's a political stunt.»
Danon emphasized that Netanyahu remains focused on serious national security matters. «We have serious issues to deal with — the war with Iran and other critical matters. The prime minister is not actually dealing with Mamdani's remarks at all. He said it very clearly: He intends to come and speak at the U.N.,» Danon said. «Prime Minister Netanyahu will come to New York and will speak in the General Assembly. The only thing the mayor can do is come to the U.N., grab a seat, listen to the Prime Minister and maybe learn something from his speech.»
Danon noted that former Mayor Eric Adams attended Netanyahu's speech last year, suggesting that Mamdani could do the same. «A local leader can come and hear. That's the only thing he can do,» Danon said.
The controversy has drawn additional reactions. Mazal Tazazo, a survivor of the Hamas attack on the Nova music festival, also criticized Mamdani's video, calling it «dangerous.» In a video shared on social media, Tazazo said she was shocked by Mamdani's claims. «What's happening there is not genocide. People died. Yes, this is a war, but it's not genocide,» she said. Tazazo's remarks underscore the deep divisions over the conflict and the strong emotions surrounding Netanyahu's planned visit.
Netanyahu is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly in Manhattan in September, a visit that is expected to draw both supporters and protesters. The Israeli leader's office has confirmed that he will attend, despite the mayor's call for his arrest. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between local and international politics, as well as the polarized views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
