Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making a whirlwind 24-hour trip to speak at the annual UN gathering of world leaders this month because “there is no option” after New York’s mayor urged his arrest over the war in Gaza, Israel’s UN envoy said on Tuesday (September 8, 2026).
Netanyahu into custody. He stressed, “For us, it’s important the Prime Minister will come. Netanyahu has become an increasingly polarising figure over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
Ambassador Danny Danon accused Mayor Zohran Mamdani of “doing politics” when he called the Prime Minister a “war criminal” and called for his arrest, which he had to withdraw because New York City does not have the authority to take Mr. “You know, it became very trendy to do politics by blaming Israel,” Mr. Danon said. The International Criminal Court warrant said there was reason to believe Mr. Netanyahu used “starvation as a weapon of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid and intentionally targeting civilians in the campaign against Hamas – charges Israel denies.
Mr While New York City does not have legal authority to execute an ICC arrest warrant. Mamdani has encouraged the federal government to do so. The U.S. and Israel are not members of the court, and the Trump administration has imposed a series of sanctions on ICC staffers in a campaign to dismantle the tribunal. Mr. Mr. Netanyahu tries to keep his job as Prime Minister.
Netanyahu is scheduled to arrive in New York late on September 23, address the UN General Assembly on the afternoon of September 24 and fly back to Israel that night, Mr. Danon noted that the meeting of leaders from the 193 UN member nations is taking place during the Jewish holidays and an election campaign as Mr.
Danon said.
