Netanyahu says he plans to attend UN General Assembly despite Mamdani’s arrest warning

Monday 27 July 2026 - 15:15

By: Azzat Manal

Netanyahu says he plans to attend UN General Assembly despite Mamdani’s arrest warning

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he intends to attend the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session in New York, despite previous remarks by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani about the possibility of arresting him.

Mamdani had earlier suggested that he was considering whether city authorities could act on the arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court (ICC). He later acknowledged that the New York City administration does not have the authority to enforce the warrant and called on federal authorities to address the matter.

In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu dismissed concerns over the possibility of being detained and said he still expected to travel to New York for the international gathering.

The Israeli prime minister has regularly attended UN General Assembly sessions during his time in office. He indicated that the main factor that could prevent him from making the trip would be a serious deterioration in Israel’s security situation.

The issue is linked to arrest warrants issued by the ICC in November 2024 for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in connection with the conflict in Gaza. Israel has rejected the allegations and questioned the court’s jurisdiction.

The United States has also opposed efforts to arrest Israeli leaders, with President Donald Trump expressing strong support for Israel and rejecting the possibility of Netanyahu being detained on American soil.

Netanyahu’s expected attendance comes as Israel faces growing international criticism over its policies and military operations in Gaza. His participation in the UN General Assembly is therefore likely to draw significant international attention and further debate over the conflict and the role of international institutions.