New York City Mayor Considers Arresting Israeli Prime Minister

In a recent statement, New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani indicated he might direct the NYPD to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his upcoming visit to the United Nations General Assembly.

During an interview on a podcast, Mamdani—who made history as the first mayor to take an oath on the Koran—asserted that Netanyahu should be held accountable at The Hague, the location of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Throughout his campaign, Mamdani vowed to instruct the NYPD to act on ICC warrants against Israeli officials. However, a prior discussion highlighted that the U.S. isn’t a signatory to the ICC treaty, which raises questions about the legitimacy of such actions.

When pressed about his intentions, Mamdani reaffirmed a commitment to uphold the ICC’s stance on Netanyahu upon his arrival in New York.

“He is a war criminal indicted by the International Criminal Court,” Mamdani commented, emphasizing that many share this view based on Netanyahu’s recent actions.

He also assured the interviewer that any legal steps taken would comply fully with existing New York City laws.

“Anything permitted by law in New York City, that’s what we’ll pursue. We’re not crafting new laws for this situation,” he clarified.

When the discussion touched on whether world leaders receive amnesty at UN gatherings, Mamdani acknowledged the complexity of the issue but reiterated the importance of the ICC’s warrant against Netanyahu, noting its significance.

“As the mayor of New York, I’m obligated to follow our local laws,” he added with a smile.

As for Netanyahu, who is slated to speak at a UN event in September, he addressed Mamdani’s remarks on a radio show, suggesting the mayor should think carefully about his criticisms.

“He should reflect on who he is choosing to criticize and who he is complimenting,” Netanyahu stated. “Israel is the only democracy that aligns with American values.”

When asked if he feared arrest, Netanyahu confidently replied, “No, I’m not worried.”

In a previous appearance, Netanyahu suggested that Mamdani sympathizes with Hamas and is, in some sense, against American interests.