Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply criticised New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during remarks at the United Nations in New York, accusing the mayor of attempting to prevent his visit to the city.

Addressing Mamdani directly, Netanyahu said efforts to silence him had failed, declaring that “you can’t silence the truth.”

Netanyahu also criticised Mamdani over his reported associations with individuals he described as sympathetic to Hamas, citing comments attributed to political commentator Hasan Piker.

The Israeli prime minister further rejected allegations that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, arguing instead that Israel’s military actions were aimed at preventing what he described as genocide against Israelis.

The remarks followed controversy over Mamdani’s position on an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued for Netanyahu. Mamdani had previously indicated support for enforcing the warrant if Netanyahu entered New York, but later acknowledged limits on the city’s authority over foreign leaders.

Under the U.S. constitutional system, foreign affairs and the enforcement of international obligations involving foreign officials fall primarily within the authority of the federal government, rather than the New York City mayor’s office.

The dispute comes amid broader tensions over U.S. policy toward Israel and the Palestinian territories, with the Netanyahu government continuing to face international scrutiny over its military campaign in Gaza.