Mamdani hits back at Netanyahu after UNGA speech, accuses Israeli PM of spreading ‘baseless lies’

New York City Mayorelect Zohran Mamdani on Thursday accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of using his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly to repeat what he described as ldquobaseless liesrdquo about Israelrsquos actions in GazaMamdanirsquos remarks came after Netanyahu directly criticised him during his UN General Assembly address alleging that Jewish residents in New York no longer felt safe following Mamdanirsquos electionThe exchange marked the latest public confrontation between Netanyahu and Mamdani who has been a vocal critic of Israelrsquos military actions in Gaza Netanyahu has rejected allegations that Israel is committing genocide and has accused Mamdani of supporting positions and individuals hostile towards Israel and Jewish communitiesMamdani accuses Netanyahu of using UN platform to defend IsraelResponding to Netanyahursquos speech Mamdani said the Israeli prime minister had again sought to justify Israelrsquos conduct in GazaldquoAs he has done time and again Prime Minister Netanyahu used his speech to repeat baseless lies meant to sanitise his genocide of Palestinians Yet no lie can change the fact that he remains the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant alleging war crimes and crimes against humanityrdquo as per the statementMamdani has previously described Netanyahu as a ldquowar criminalrdquo and accused him of being responsible for what he calls genocide against Palestinians He has also called for Netanyahu to face arrest under the International Criminal Court warrantThe International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity Israel has rejected the allegations and disputed the courtrsquos jurisdictionNetanyahu says Jewish New Yorkers no longer feel safeDuring his UN address Netanyahu directly addressed Mamdani and alleged that Jewish residents of New York had become increasingly concerned about their safetyldquoMr 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 isnt the city we remember It changed so quickly You praise criminals convicted of supporting Hamas You count as friends people like Hasan Piker who said America deserved 911 America deserved 911 Some friends you have You invited to your home a Palestinian journalist who filmed Hamas terrorists beating and torturing Israeli hostages and later admitted that he refused to publish the videos in order to protect you guessed it the terrorists he further saidNetanyahu also accused Mamdani of associating with people who have expressed support for Hamas and criticised the mayorelectrsquos opposition to Israelrsquos military campaign in GazaMamdani has rejected allegations that criticism of Israel or advocacy for Palestinian rights amounts to antisemitism The dispute between the two has intensified as Mamdani prepares to take office as New York City mayorNetanyahu rejects genocide allegations against IsraelNetanyahu also used his UN speech to reject allegations that Israel had committed genocide in GazaYour wife liked a post praising the October 7 massacre She liked another post saying Tel Aviv shouldnt exist You refuse to condemn any of that You falsely and repeatedly accuse Israel of genocide Mr Mamdani you try to stop me from coming here You tried to silence me Well you cant silence me You cant silence the truth And heres the simple truth Heres a simple truth Israel didnt commit genocide Israel prevented genocide he saidIsrael has consistently denied allegations of genocide and said its military campaign is aimed at Hamas following the October 7 2023 attack on Israel Palestinian officials and international bodies have made allegations concerning Israelrsquos conduct in Gaza while the legal question of genocide remains contested and subject to international judicial proceedingsReuters reported ahead of Netanyahursquos UN appearance that he intended to use the platform to defend Israelrsquos military actions and respond to criticism from MamdaniMamdani has called for Netanyahursquos arrestMamdani had earlier called on the US federal government to enforce the ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu if he entered the United States while saying the Israeli prime minister was not welcome in New YorkDuring his mayoral campaign Mamdani said he would direct New York police to enforce the warrant if Netanyahu came to the city He has since acknowledged that the city does not have the authority to arrest the Israeli prime minister and has instead urged the federal government to act US President Donald Trump has said Netanyahu would not be arrestedNetanyahu referred to Mamdanirsquos earlier efforts to prevent his appearance in New York during his UN speechldquoMr Mamdani you try to stop me from coming here You tried to silence me Well you cant silence me You cant silence the truthrdquo he saidWith inputs from ANI