Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that he would use his speech at the United Nations this week to defend Israel’s military actions in Gaza and accuse New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of supporting Hamas.

Netanyahu’s comments came in response to remarks by Mamdani, who told CNN on Monday that Netanyahu was a “war criminal and an architect of a horrific genocide of the Palestinian people”.

Netanyahu is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Thursday.

“I’m coming to the UN,” Netanyahu said in a brief video statement. “I’m going to tell the truth about our heroic soldiers, and I’m going to tell the truth about you, Mamdani.”

Mamdani had previously said he would arrest Netanyahu, but acknowledged that he did not have the authority to do so.

“Shame on you, Mr Mamdani,” Netanyahu said. “Shame on you for supporting the Hamas terrorist monsters who butchered our people. Shame on you for inciting riots against New York Jews.”

Some Republican opponents have accused Mamdani of antisemitism, citing his pro-Palestinian advocacy and criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

Mamdani has condemned antisemitism and said his criticism of Israel is wrongly conflated with antisemitism.

The Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killed about 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of 251 others, according to Israeli authorities.

Israel responded with an air and ground campaign that it says is aimed at dismantling Hamas’ military and governing capabilities. More than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health officials, whose toll does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

Israel has denied carrying out genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, saying it is fighting Hamas militants and accusing the group of operating from civilian areas.

Last week, Netanyahu spokesman Doron Spielman told Reuters that Netanyahu had already addressed the United Nations more than any other world leader and would use the platform to present what he described as the truth about Israel.

“He’s going to use that platform to address the truth in a forum of countries that are often buying a false narrative about Israel,” Spielman said.

“It’s one of the most important stages for the Prime Minister of Israel to stand on and present the truth to the world. That’s our goal. He’s not intimidated by anybody. He’s not intimidated by Mayor Mamdani,” he added.