New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a news conference at City Hall in New York City.
Mamdani reportedly skips anti-Netanyahu protests during UN visit
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is reportedly not planning to attend anti-Netanyahu protests expected next week during the ‘Israeli’ prime minister’s visit for the United Nations General Assembly, according to Politico.
Netanyahu is scheduled to address the UN later this month, with his speech anticipated around September 26.
The trip has heightened tensions given Mamdani’s long-standing criticism of the ‘Israeli’ leader and ‘Israel’s’ assault on Gaza.
Mamdani, who has repeatedly called Netanyahu a “war criminal” and accused him of orchestrating a “horrific genocide against the Palestinian people,” previously vowed during his campaign to have the NYPD arrest him under an International Criminal Court warrant if he entered the city.
In July, after a legal review, Mamdani acknowledged that the city lacks the independent authority to enforce the ICC warrant.
In a widely viewed video statement, he declared: “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.”
He added: “Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large.”
President Donald Trump responded by stating that Netanyahu “will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America.”
Mamdani has consistently framed protest as a core New York value.
At a City Hall press conference, he said: “One of the bedrocks of our city is protest. This is a city where, if anyone feels a level of frustration or opposition, protest is something that we will always respect. I leave it to New Yorkers themselves to make that decision.”
He further noted understanding for Palestinian New Yorkers’ disappointment, stating he would not welcome Netanyahu and that previous mayoral welcomes “end with me.”
A spokesperson for the mayor previously declined to confirm whether Mamdani himself would join any demonstrations.
Recent reporting indicates he is not expected to attend the protests personally, even as his earlier comments are seen by some as encouraging turnout.
‘Israeli’ Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon has criticized the mayor for “inciting and calling for people to demonstrate,” warning of “intense” protests and advising Mamdani to focus on mayoral duties rather than “sow chaos.”
The upcoming visit poses logistical and political challenges for Mamdani and the NYPD.
Experts and law enforcement sources anticipate larger-than-usual demonstrations, with one describing the mayor’s rhetoric as elevating a routine security event into a more significant test.
