Netanyahu's office attacks New York mayor over ICC warrant remarks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Tuesday issued a sharp statement directed at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, dismissing the International Criminal Court as a "fake court" with no jurisdiction over Israelis and Americans. The statement said the arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu was "legally baseless and invalid," and argued that Mamdani should focus on problems caused by his policies in New York rather than express support for former ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan. The exchange followed Mamdani's earlier remarks that his administration was reviewing whether Netanyahu could be arrested if he visited New York in September for the United Nations General Assembly. The mayor's comments came amid questions over U.S. obligations regarding the ICC warrant, which has complicated Netanyahu's travel plans. The prime minister's office directly targeted Mamdani in its response, escalating tensions between the Israeli government and one of America's largest municipal leaders. Netanyahu's office said Mamdani's stance aligned him with Khan, whom the statement did not name positively, rather than with Israeli and American interests. The statement did not specify what legal or diplomatic steps Netanyahu's office might take, and no further details were immediately available.