Israeli UN envoy blasts Mamdani as 'clown' over call to arrest Netanyahu: 'It's a stunt'

Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as a "clown" for demanding the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon his arrival in New York for the UN General Assembly in September. Mamdani accused Netanyahu of being a "war criminal" and the "architect of a horrific genocide" against Palestinians, calling on the federal government to execute an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant. Danon dismissed these remarks as "baseless" and a "political stunt," stating, "Everyone knows it's a show. It's a stunt." He argued that Mamdani should focus on local issues rather than foreign affairs, especially given the rise of antisemitism in New York. Danon also refuted Mamdani's claims about humanitarian issues in Gaza, asserting that "there is a lot of humanitarian aid coming into Gaza every day." Israeli officials deny all charges, and Netanyahu's office rejects the ICC's jurisdiction, calling it "a kangaroo court that has no jurisdiction over Americans or Israelis."