Netanyahu Slams Mamdani Over Hamas, Israel
NEW YORK CITY
— Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has significantly escalated a bitter, ongoing public feud with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, releasing a blistering video statement on Tuesday directly accusing the socialist mayor of supporting terrorism and inciting antisemitic unrest.
The extraordinary confrontation sets the stage for a dramatic showdown as world leaders gather for the United Nations General Assembly, where Netanyahu has vowed to publicly target the mayor of his host city during his scheduled Thursday address.
## I. "Shame On You"
The public clash intensified after Mamdani—the first socialist mayor of the United States' largest city—renewed his fierce criticism of the Israeli leader during a CNN interview on Monday. In the broadcast, Mamdani described Netanyahu as "a war criminal and an architect of a horrific genocide of the Palestinian people."
Netanyahu responded furiously via a video message posted to X on Tuesday, framing Mamdani as hostile to Israel and sympathetic to the terrorist organization that carried out the October 7, 2023, attacks.
"Shame on you, Mr. Mamdani," Netanyahu said in the video. "Shame on you for supporting the Hamas terrorist monsters who butchered our people. Shame on you for inciting riots against New York Jews."
The prime minister then promised to address Mamdani's rhetoric on the global stage. "I'm coming to the U.N.," Netanyahu declared. "I'm going to tell the truth about our heroic soldiers, and I'm going to tell the truth about you."
When asked about the prime minister's video during an unrelated press conference on Tuesday morning, Mamdani firmly rejected the accusations of supporting Hamas or antisemitism.
"We all know that what the prime minister has said in that video is not true," Mamdani told reporters. "What we do know to actually be the truth when it comes to the prime minister is that he is the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. And as the prime minister, he is the architect of a horrific genocide against Palestinians."
## II. The ICC Arrest Warrant Dispute
The foundation of the dispute rests on the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant in 2024 accusing Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity stemming from the Gaza conflict. Both Israel and the United States reject the court's jurisdiction and the allegations.
However, during his mayoral campaign, Mamdani stoked controversy by vowing that New York would arrest Netanyahu if the Israeli prime minister visited the city. After his administration concluded that the city lacks independent legal authority to enforce the international warrant, Mamdani shifted his strategy, urging the federal government to act and declaring Netanyahu unwelcome in New York.
"I do believe that that is something that should be honored," Mamdani reiterated on Monday, arguing that no individual should be placed above international accountability.
President Donald Trump has previously rejected any possibility of federal cooperation with the ICC, stating that Netanyahu "will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America."
## III. Domestic Tensions Over Rising Antisemitism
The diplomatic clash is further complicated by severe domestic political tensions within New York City, which is home to the largest Jewish population in the United States.
Mamdani has faced intense scrutiny regarding his positions on Israel and the local Jewish community. During his mayoral campaign, he drew criticism for declining to condemn the phrases “globalize the intifada” and “from the river to the sea.” The mayor’s administration has also faced protests over its decision to revoke the city's use of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism.
According to recent data from the New York Police Department, anti-Jewish incidents rose to represent 57% of the city's total reported hate crimes in 2025, a statistic that has fueled domestic outrage from Israeli officials.
On Tuesday, Israeli Consul General in New York Ofir Akunis joined the fray, accusing Mamdani of spreading "lies and blood libels" against Israel and failing to adequately address the Hamas-led October 7 attacks.
Netanyahu's visit to New York is expected to be brief. He is scheduled to arrive Thursday morning, address the General Assembly in the afternoon, and depart for Israel shortly afterward, having dropped earlier plans for a more extended U.S. diplomatic trip.
💥 PRESS DEBUT DISASTER!
Katie Zacharia’s Awkward First White House Press Briefing Draws National Attention
Katie Zacharia’s first appearance behind the White House podium quickly became a major talking point after several uncomfortable moments overshadowed her debut as President Donald Trump’s new press secretary.
The October 13 briefing lasted approximately 14 minutes, with Zacharia answering questions from only three news outlets before ending the session. Her short appearance immediately attracted widespread media attention.
Zacharia had recently been selected to replace former press secretary Karoline Leavitt, stepping into a highly visible role responsible for communicating the administration’s positions to journalists and the American public.
From the opening minutes, observers noticed her reliance on prepared notes. She delivered a lengthy account of Trump’s accomplishments, frequently looking down at the script instead of maintaining eye contact with reporters.
Her delivery also attracted criticism, with commentators describing her voice as hesitant and her presentation as unusually stiff. Others questioned whether the administration had given its newest spokesperson enough preparation time.
Much of the briefing focused on praising Trump’s economic agenda, energy policies, rally attendance, and political achievements. The extended list of talking points left relatively little time for substantive exchanges with journalists.
One particularly awkward moment occurred when Zacharia discussed the challenge of balancing her demanding position with family life. She explained that spending evenings away from her four children was unacceptable to her.
She then accidentally referred to her husband as “my president” before immediately correcting herself with “my husband.” Recognizing the slip, she added a brief joke, creating the briefing’s most widely discussed moment.
The verbal mix-up spread rapidly through news coverage and social media, becoming a defining image of her first appearance. Critics treated it as evidence of nervousness, while others viewed it as an ordinary human mistake.
Her response to a question about U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine also drew attention. When asked whether Washington had stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv, Zacharia replied that she would have to get back to the reporter.
The exchange was brief, but it highlighted the difficulty of responding to sensitive foreign policy questions without immediately having the necessary information. Reporters continued seeking answers as the briefing moved forward.
Another significant announcement concerned Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece. Zacharia told reporters that the administration had asked Guilfoyle to resign, unexpectedly introducing a personnel development into the short briefing.
The announcement generated additional headlines and demonstrated that, despite the awkward delivery, Zacharia’s first appearance included consequential political news. Her handling of the announcement, however, also attracted scrutiny from commentators.
Questions about her readiness soon emerged among political observers and some administration allies. The Wall Street Journal described the debut as rocky, reporting that her nervous presentation prompted questions about the decision to put her before cameras so quickly.
The brief question-and-answer session was another unusual feature. After taking questions from Breitbart News, Fox News, and the Daily Mail, Zacharia announced that reporters could ask Trump questions directly as he prepared to leave.
Her decision to end the briefing after such limited questioning became another focus of criticism. Regular White House briefings often involve extended exchanges, making the short session particularly noticeable to journalists and political commentators.
Despite the criticism, Trump publicly defended his new press secretary. Asked about her performance, the president said he thought she had done very well, offering a clear show of support following the difficult debut.
The White House also presented the briefing positively, describing Zacharia’s performance as commanding. That assessment contrasted with critical media coverage, illustrating how differently supporters and detractors interpreted the same appearance.
Zacharia’s debut has therefore become an early test of her ability to manage a demanding communications role. Future briefings will offer a clearer indication of whether she can develop greater confidence and handle sustained questioning.
For now, the accidental “my president” remark remains the most memorable moment from her first appearance. Whether the incident becomes a brief viral embarrassment or a lasting political talking point will depend on what follows.
