Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, publicly criticised New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, branding him a "clown" and dismissing his call for federal authorities to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a political "stunt". The exchange highlights ongoing friction between Mamdani and Israeli officials, and comes amid wider scrutiny of the mayor's stance on Israel since his election.

Danon's comments followed Mamdani's accusation that Netanyahu is a "war criminal", with the mayor calling for Netanyahu's arrest should he travel to New York, reportedly citing an International Criminal Court warrant. Mamdani has since acknowledged he does not hold the legal authority to order such an arrest, a point seized on by critics including a former Bush administration speechwriter, who said the mayor was on the "wrong side of the law".