Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to make a 24-hour visit to New York this month to address the United Nations General Assembly, according to Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon. The trip follows a controversial call by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who had urged for Netanyahu’s arrest over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Danon stated that Netanyahu is making the trip because “there is no option” after Mamdani’s remarks. Mamdani had initially accused Netanyahu of being a “war criminal” and called for his arrest, citing an arrest warrant issued in November 2024 by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC accused Netanyahu and another Israeli official of crimes against humanity, including using starvation as a weapon of war and targeting civilians during the conflict with Hamas. However, Mamdani later retracted his call for arrest, noting that New York City lacks the authority to detain a foreign head of state. Danon criticized Mamdani for using the situation for political gain and said it has become “trendy” to blame Israel for global issues. The ICC is an international tribunal that prosecutes individuals for serious crimes like war crimes and crimes against humanity. While the U.S. and Israel are not members of the ICC, Mamdani has encouraged the federal government to act on the arrest warrant. The Trump administration previously imposed sanctions on ICC staff in an attempt to weaken the court’s influence. Israel has denied the charges brought by the ICC, calling them politically motivated. Netanyahu is expected to arrive in New York late on September 23 and address the U.N. General Assembly on the afternoon of September 24 before returning to Israel that same night. Danon noted that the visit coincides with Jewish holidays and Israel’s election campaign, as Netanyahu seeks re-election. He warned that protests against the prime minister could lead to “more chaos” in New York during the U.N. meetings, which run from September 22 to 28. Last year, a mass walkout occurred when Netanyahu spoke at the U.N. Danon anticipates a similar disruption but believes Netanyahu’s experience will help him deliver his speech regardless.