Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will make a brief 24-hour trip to New York later this month to address the United Nations General Assembly, despite calls from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for his arrest over the war in Gaza.

Netanyahu is scheduled to arrive in New York late Sept. 23, deliver his address to the U.N. General Assembly on the afternoon of Sept. 24, and return to Israel that evening, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said Tuesday. Danon said there was “no option” but for Netanyahu to attend the annual gathering of leaders from the U.N.’s 193 member nations.

The visit comes after Mamdani called Netanyahu a “war criminal” and said he should be arrested if he entered New York. Mamdani later acknowledged that the city does not have the legal authority to enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against the Israeli prime minister. He has instead called on the federal government to enforce the warrant.

Danon criticized Mamdani's position Tuesday, accusing the mayor of using the issue for political purposes and saying the Israeli government considers Netanyahu’s appearance at the United Nations important.

Netanyahu has been the subject of an ICC arrest warrant issued in November 2024. The court alleged there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant were responsible for crimes against humanity and war crimes, including the alleged use of starvation as a method of warfare and intentionally targeting civilians during Israel’s military campaign against Hamas. Israel has rejected the allegations.

The United States and Israel are not parties to the International Criminal Court. The Trump administration has also imposed sanctions against ICC officials as part of its opposition to the court’s actions involving Israel.

The controversy surrounding Netanyahu’s visit comes as tensions over Israel’s war against Hamas continue to shape political debate in New York and internationally. Mamdani had made a pledge to seek Netanyahu’s arrest during his mayoral campaign, but his administration later concluded that city officials lacked the authority to carry out the warrant.

Danon also warned that demonstrations surrounding Netanyahu’s appearance could create additional disruption during the weeklong U.N. gathering, which runs from Sept. 22 through Sept. 28. This year’s General Assembly also coincides with Jewish holidays and an Israeli election campaign in which Netanyahu is seeking to remain prime minister.

Netanyahu’s appearance could again draw protests inside and outside the United Nations. During his address last year, a large group of delegates walked out of the General Assembly chamber as he began speaking. Danon said he expects another highly visible demonstration this year but expressed confidence that Netanyahu will deliver his speech despite the opposition.