Van Hollen Calls Netanyahu 'Wanted War Criminal' Ahead of UN Speech, as NYC Protests Mass

Senator Chris Van Hollen did not soften his language.

"I just watched the video released by Prime Minister Netanyahu about Mayor Mamdani," the Maryland Democrat said Wednesday. "The first thing everybody should know is that Prime Minister Netanyahu is a chronic liar. He lies and lies and lies."

"There are many countries that don't allow him to cross their borders. The prime minister is lucky that the United States has let him cross our borders, but that doesn't erase his lies, and that doesn't erase his war crimes."

Van Hollen was responding to a video Netanyahu released this week accusing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of supporting Hamas and inciting violence against Jewish New Yorkers. Netanyahu said he would use his UN General Assembly address, scheduled for Thursday, to answer Mamdani directly and defend Israel's conduct in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

Van Hollen repeatedly invoked the International Criminal Court's November 2024 arrest warrant against Netanyahu, issued alongside one for former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Netanyahu and the Israeli government have rejected the warrant and challenged the court's jurisdiction.

The senator also pressed a separate accountability question, accusing Netanyahu's government of failing to deliver justice for American citizens killed in the occupied West Bank. He cited the case of Nasrallah Abu Siyam, a 19-year-old Palestinian-American, who according to Van Hollen was killed by an Israeli settler in February. Van Hollen, along with Senators Tim Kaine and Bernie Sanders, has introduced a resolution requiring the State Department to report on what they describe as a pattern of violence in the West Bank.

Manhattan braces for Thursday

Three separate demonstrations are planned across the city during Netanyahu's visit. Israeli expatriate group UnXeptable is set to rally at Union Square at 11 a.m. An hour later, US Jewish organizations including T'ruah, J Street, the New Israel Fund, and the New York Jewish Agenda plan to gather near the UN, with organizers stating Netanyahu "has blood on his hands" and is "not welcome in New York City."

A separate coalition, including the Palestinian Youth Movement, Jewish Voice for Peace's New York branch, the Democratic Socialists of America, and CodePink, plans to march from Bryant Park toward the UN demanding Netanyahu be "brought to justice."

Mamdani, who has previously called Netanyahu a "war criminal," said he lacks legal authority to enforce the ICC warrant himself and has called on the federal government to act. He has said he will not personally join Thursday's protests. Israel's UN mission has said it expects "intense" demonstrations and has blamed Mamdani for the reception awaiting the prime minister.