Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday, calling him a “clown” after Mamdani urged federal authorities to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his upcoming visit to the city.
Mamdani had labeled Netanyahu a “war criminal” and accused him of orchestrating genocide against Palestinians. He also called on the federal government to enforce an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Netanyahu, who is due to speak at the United Nations General Assembly in Manhattan.
Those baseless remarks about harassing the Prime Minister—it’s a joke, and he’s a clown,
Danon told Fox News Digital. He added, Everyone knows it’s a show. It’s a stunt.
He urged the mayor to focus on city issues like homelessness and rising antisemitism within New York’s Jewish community, stating these should be his top priorities.
A recent video from the YouTube channel of the New York City Mayor’s Office titled, “Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal,” reiterates Mamdani’s accusations. Mamdani claimed Netanyahu was responsible for killing over 73,000 people and condemned him for attacks on neonatal hospitals and blocking humanitarian aid.
Mamdani argued that the ICC’s warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest was justified. He cited how, despite a ceasefire, the U.N. reported continued targeting of Palestinian children by Israeli forces.
Danon retorted with claims of ongoing humanitarian aid to Gaza saying nobody talks about those contributions anymore. He accused Mamdani of spreading old blood libels against Israel.
Mamdani admitted the city lacks legal power to act on the ICC warrant but called on the federal government to join the ICC and execute it. He insisted Netanyahu and other leaders accused of war crimes are unwelcome in New York City.
Netanyahu’s office dismissed the ICC’s jurisdiction, labeling it a “kangaroo court” irrelevant to Americans or Israelis. Danon insisted there’s no legal foundation for the mayor’s statements, noting the U.S. isn’t a member of the ICC, rendering political stunts ineffective.
Danon emphasized the importance of focusing on serious issues like ongoing tensions with Iran. He stated that Netanyahu remains unfazed by Mamdani’s comments and intends to address the U.N. General Assembly.
Prime Minister Netanyahu will come to New York and will speak in the General Assembly,
Danon reaffirmed, adding the only action the mayor could take is to attend and listen to the Prime Minister’s speech.
Emma Bussey contributed to this report. Before joining Fox News Digital, she worked with The Telegraph’s U.S. overnight team.
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