Netanyahu uses UN speech to target Zohran Mamdani over Gaza criticism

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday to accuse New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani of endangering Jewish residents with his criticism of Israel's military actions in Gaza. Netanyahu said Mamdani had spread lies about Israel and described him as "the antisemitic mayor of New York".

The remarks are the latest exchange between Netanyahu and Mamdani, New York City's first Muslim mayor, who has been a vocal critic of Israel's actions in Gaza. Mamdani has called Netanyahu a "war criminal" and "the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people", while also saying that his criticism of Israel and support for Palestinian rights do not amount to antisemitism.

Addressing the UN, Netanyahu said, "Mr Mamdani, since you were elected mayor of this city, many Jews no longer feel safe in New York. They talk to me, they tell me this isn't the city we remember, it changed so quickly." He also said, "Mr Mamdani, you tried to stop me from coming here. You tried to silence me. Well, you can't silence me and you can't silence the truth."