Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sparked pushback from international and native leaders as he delivered a defiant speech on the United Nations in Manhattan on Friday whereas protesters gathered on the streets outdoors.
Netanyahu’s go to has develop into a flashpoint on this yr’s mayoral election, with Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani issuing a press release condemning the Israeli chief over the warfare in Gaza whereas Mayor Adams deliberate to satisfy with Netanyahu later within the day.
Mamdani, who has vowed if elected to order the NYPD to arrest Netanyahu on warfare crime costs leveled in opposition to him by the Worldwide Legal Court docket, famous in a press release that the prime minister was delivering his speech earlier than “an institution which has concluded his government has committed a genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.”
“During the course of his speech, another Palestinian child will undoubtedly be killed by the Israeli military in Gaza, as they have been every single hour for nearly two years,” Mamdani stated.
As quickly because the prime minister took the rostrum within the UN constructing’s Meeting Corridor, a big group of international delegates walked out in protest of the warfare in Gaza, which in line with the Gaza Well being Ministry has killed greater than 60,000.
Israel launched the marketing campaign in opposition to Hamas in response to the Oct. 7, 2023 terror assault in Israel, and Netanyahu in his speech addressed efforts underway globally and on the UN to press for a Palestinian state.
“It will be a mark of shame on all you,” Netanyahu stated on the UN, saying recognizing Palestinian statehood can be akin to giving al-Qaeda a sovereign land subsequent to Manhattan after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror assaults.
Exterior the UN constructing, a bunch of about 100 pro-Israel advocates gathered to name on the Israeli authorities for the discharge of the hostages Hamas terrorists are nonetheless holding captive in Gaza.
NYPD was bracing Friday morning for a a lot bigger crowd of pro-Palestine protesters to reach outdoors the UN constructing who began marching from Instances Sq. as Netanyahu started his speech, during which he railed in opposition to nations which have just lately acknowledged Palestine statehood.
Protest in New York on Friday. (Emma Seiwell / New York Every day Information)
Mamdani, in his assertion, additionally turned his ire to his opponents in November’s election, Mayor Adams and Andrew Cuomo, who’ve been way more supportive of Netanyahu amid the continued warfare in Gaza.
“Eric Adams will greet Netanyahu as a friend. Andrew Cuomo proudly served on his legal defense team. Both have jockeyed for the approval of Donald Trump, who has sent billions of our taxpayer dollars to support these war crimes,” stated Mamdani, who’s polling as the favourite to develop into the town’s subsequent mayor. “A mayor cannot end these atrocities. But they can speak for the values of this city: a commitment to human rights for all people, including Palestinians, and a yearning for peace and justice.”
Adams was on the UN listening to Netanyahu’s speech.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses world leaders through the United Nations Basic Meeting (UNGA) on the United Nations headquarters on Friday in New York Metropolis. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Pictures)
In response to his workplace, Adams was anticipated to satisfy privately with the prime minister after his speech.
Cuomo was at one level was a part of a authorized group to defend Netanyahu in opposition to the warfare crime costs. His marketing campaign didn’t instantly return a request for touch upon what he was doing throughout Netanyahu’s go to.
Initially Printed: September 26, 2025 at 10:40 AM EDT
