Mamdani says he will not join demonstrations against Netanyahu during New York visit

Mamdani said he had been in contact with the New York Police Department ahead of the General Assembly week and that "right now, there are no expected threats that we know of."

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he had no plans to join demonstrations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his upcoming visit to the city.

"I do not have any plans to attend any protest at the UN General Assembly," Mamdani said in response to reporters' questions.

He said he had been in contact with the New York Police Department ahead of the General Assembly week and that "right now, there are no expected threats that we know of, and we continue to be confident in being able to deliver safety and security for New Yorkers."

Mamdani also sought to clarify that he was not calling on city residents to demonstrate against Netanyahu.

"To New Yorkers, I have never encouraged them to protest," he said. "What I have always told them is that they have the right to do so in the city. We respect that right. And this is a city that is proud of the Constitution, proud of the First Amendment, we'll continue to do so."

Mamdani has made his positions on Netanyahu clear

Asked why, given his previous sharp criticism of Netanyahu, he had decided not to participate in the protests himself, the mayor said he had already made his positions clear.

"I have made very clear about my views, my thoughts, my assessments," Mamdani said. "Also, when it comes to the UN General Assembly, my focus is ensuring that our city remains prepared to host representatives from across the world to keep New Yorkers safe."

He added that the city also had to ensure it could "both address the global conversation that is happening here in our city and the very local concerns that New Yorkers have about traffic and their ability to get from point A to point B over the course of that time period."

During his campaign and after taking office, Mamdani examined whether the city had any authority to act on the arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court. In July, he announced that the legal review had found that New York City did not have the authority to execute the warrant, although he continued to say that he believed the federal government should take action on the matter.

Mamdani also said at the time that Netanyahu was not welcome in New York as far as he was concerned and that, unlike previous mayors, he would not personally greet him.

Prayer vigil in support of Israel outside mayor's residence

Mamdani was also asked about students from the Ramaz Jewish school and other Jewish schools who are planning to hold a prayer vigil outside his official residence, Gracie Mansion, on Friday to express support for Israel and Netanyahu.

"I welcome them," he said. "They can have a vigil, or I've heard some describe it even as a protest. Whatever it is intended to be, they have the room and space to do so outside of Gracie Mansion."

Asked whether he would go outside to meet them and hear what they had to say, however, Mamdani made clear that this was unlikely.

"I think that at the time that they are there, I will probably be somewhere else across the city," he said.