New York City law enforcement officials are preparing for an extensive security operation ahead of Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s visit to the United Nations next month, with police sources arguing that Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s repeated criticism of the Israeli leader has heightened tensions and increased potential risks for officers and the public, the New York Post reports.

According to law enforcement officials who spoke to the New York Post, Netanyahu’s trip will require a security operation comparable to the protection provided for a visiting head of state. The sources contend that Mamdani’s public statements against Netanyahu have energized radical demonstrators and made an already challenging assignment significantly more difficult.

“Basically, he’s making what would be considered a Category 1 hurricane that we deal with every year into a Category 5 because of his words,” a law enforcement source said.

Mamdani has consistently voiced strong support for the Palestinian cause and has sharply criticized Israel. During his 2025 mayoral campaign, he called for Netanyahu’s arrest, and he repeated that position last month before acknowledging that the NYPD lacks the legal authority to carry out such an arrest.

The mayor also encouraged demonstrations during Netanyahu’s upcoming visit, telling supporters to “take to the streets” and saying that “one of the bedrocks of our city is protest.”

Police officials said those remarks have frustrated many officers who will already be responsible for protecting the Israeli leader and other visiting dignitaries.

“We have to protect hotels, we have to protect wherever [dignitaries] go out to eat, we have to protect everything,” the law enforcement source said. “Having the mayor say, ‘Go ahead and protest, and he should be arrested’ . . . is unfair to your own cops.”

Netanyahu is expected to arrive in New York next month for the United Nations General Assembly, where he is scheduled to address delegates on Sept. 26.

While his complete itinerary has not yet been finalized, police sources estimate that his security detail could ultimately require 60 or more officers, including both direct protection personnel and supporting units.

Typically, visiting dignitaries are assigned a protection team consisting of one sergeant and eight detectives, supplemented by federal and state law enforcement as well as security personnel from the visiting nation.

“What’s going to stop one of the protesters from becoming a vigilante and trying to hurt or God forbid kill him?” the source said.

The same official also expressed concern that demonstrators who believe they are acting in line with the mayor’s message “could cause an officer to get hurt or even killed.”

Another law enforcement source pointed to the bomb discovered outside Gracie Mansion in March as evidence that the threat environment remains serious.

In that incident, authorities alleged that two Pennsylvania men inspired by ISIS attempted to detonate explosive devices during a “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” rally organized by a far-right activist.

The source warned that a similar terrorist attack could be attempted during Netanyahu’s visit.

“His rhetoric is reckless,” the source said of Mamdani. “It emboldens radical and unstable agitators who could put both New Yorkers and law enforcement officers in harm’s way.”

A City Hall insider also expressed concern that the mayor’s comments could contribute to heightened tensions during the visit.

“It’s very concerning,” said the insider. “I mean, [Mamdani’s] rhetoric has clearly caused this uptick in antisemitism all across our city, and now telling people to go out and protest is going to create a powder keg of a situation.

“It’s not the mayor’s job to tell people to protest and to urge them to protest,” the city government source said. “It’s likely to be very violent. And I mean, what on Earth is this accomplishing?”

“It’s completely irresponsible,” the source added.

According to NYPD statistics, antisemitic incidents accounted for 56.9% of all hate crimes reported in New York City, despite Jews making up roughly 10% of the city’s population.

Police data also show that hate crimes overall have risen 9.4% so far this year, even as each of the city’s seven major crime categories has declined.

Detectives Endowment Association President Scott Munro said he is concerned about the challenges facing officers assigned to protect world leaders during the United Nations gathering.

“Mayor Mamdani’s reckless rhetoric surrounding Netanyahu and his calls for protests only fan the flames — making the assignment of protecting UNGA dignitaries even more difficult,” he said in a statement.

Munro noted that many officers are still recovering from injuries sustained while policing crowds in Midtown during the NBA Finals.

“Our detectives will do their job, as they always do,” Munro said. “It’s time for the mayor to do his — stand with the city and the men and women in blue protecting it, not with those on the radical protest line.”

The NYPD emphasized that the final size and scope of Netanyahu’s security detail will be determined after a comprehensive threat assessment.

“As we do every year, the NYPD works with the Secret Service, the State Department, and other federal agencies to provide protection to foreign dignitaries traveling to NYC based on the level of threat assessed,” an NYPD spokesperson said in a statement.