Key facts
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address the UN General Assembly on Thursday.
- Netanyahu plans to defend Israel's military actions and accuse NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani of supporting Hamas.
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani previously called Netanyahu a 'war criminal and an architect of a horrific genocide of the Palestinian people.'
- Hamas' October 7 raid killed about 1,200 people and 251 were kidnapped, according to Israeli authorities.
- Gaza health officials report over 73,000 Palestinians killed in Israel's response.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday that he would use his upcoming speech at the United Nations General Assembly to defend Israel's military actions and counter what he called a "false narrative" about the country. Netanyahu's remarks were a direct response to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who had called Netanyahu a "war criminal and an architect of a horrific genocide of the Palestinian people."
Netanyahu is scheduled to address the UN on Thursday. In a video statement, he said, "I'm going to tell the truth about our heroic soldiers, and I'm going to tell the truth about you (Mamdani)." He further accused Mamdani of supporting "Hamas terrorist monsters" and inciting riots against New York Jews.
Mamdani had previously stated he would arrest Netanyahu, though he acknowledged lacking the authority to do so. He has condemned antisemitism, asserting that his criticism of Israel is often wrongly conflated with it. Some Republican opponents have labeled Mamdani antisemitic due to his pro-Palestinian advocacy and criticism of Israel's military operations in Gaza.
According to Israeli authorities, the Hamas raid on October 7, 2023, resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 kidnappings. Gaza health officials report that Israel's subsequent air and ground assault has killed over 73,000 Palestinians, a figure that does not differentiate between combatants and civilians. Israel denies perpetrating genocide, stating its actions are against Hamas militants and accusing the group of using civilians as shields. Netanyahu's spokesman, Doron Spielman, told Reuters that the Prime Minister intends to use the UN platform to present the truth, undeterred by any criticism.
Netanyahu will visit the United States this week for a short visit to address the UN General Assembly, but his plans have been cut short over fears of protests, Ynet reported. Amid fears of possible pushback from New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Ynet reported that Netanyahu is expected to land at a military airfield in New Jersey or Newark Liberty International Airport, rather than JFK airport.