A 2023 video clip in which New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani described Israel as "an idea" has resurfaced online, prompting fresh criticism as he now publicly calls for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Netanyahu's forthcoming visit to the UN General Assembly. The renewed attention comes amid mounting scrutiny of Mamdani's past remarks on Israel, feeding into a wider row over his stance towards the Jewish state since taking office as mayor.

Mamdani has cited war crimes allegations against Netanyahu as grounds for his arrest, a position that has drawn sharp rebukes from the Israeli prime minister's office and criticism from a New York City councilwoman. The controversy has also been linked in coverage to a separate incident involving commentator Hasan Piker, who delivered remarks critical of Israel at a college Democrats convention, further fuelling debate over the direction of left-wing rhetoric on the issue.