Mamdani Floats Arresting Netanyahu If He Visits NYC for UN General Assembly
Mamdani floats arresting Netanyahu if he visits – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced that he is actively considering whether his administration could arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the leader’s anticipated visit to the city for the United Nations General Assembly this fall. This potential action would represent a significant diplomatic gesture, as the International Criminal Court has already issued a warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest on charges related to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Palestine.
Context Behind the Potential Arrest
The mayor made these comments during an interview with Lulu Garcia-Navarro on the Saturday episode of The New York Times’ “The Interview” podcast. When discussing the matter, Mamdani expressed his conviction that Netanyahu belongs in The Hague, describing the Israeli leader as a war criminal who has been formally charged by the International Criminal Court.
“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague,” Mamdani said. “He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court, and what you will find is that is an opinion that is held by many, purely because of what his actions have wrought over these past many years.”
The International Criminal Court issued its warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest in 2024, citing alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Palestine. These charges specifically include “starvation as a method of warfare” and “other inhumane acts” during the conflict in Gaza.
The mayor, who has publicly characterized the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza as a genocide, previously told the Times during his mayoral campaign last year that he would order the city’s police department to arrest the Israeli leader if he visited New York City. This position has remained consistent as he prepares to assume his role as mayor.
Netanyahu’s Response and Legal Considerations
Netanyahu has not taken the threat lightly, brushing off the possibility in a recent radio interview by accusing the mayor of supporting Hamas. Mamdani has firmly denied this accusation, maintaining that his position is based on legal obligations rather than political alignment.
“He’s with the terror actors,” the prime minister told WABC host Sid Rosenberg. “And I think the problem is that he doesn’t recognize and he doesn’t care that those who hate the Jews and Israel ultimately hate America.”
World leaders from United Nations member-states are expected to travel to New York City in September for the body’s annual session. Netanyahu has often participated in this event in years past, making his potential visit highly likely. Mamdani told the Times that he will “follow the laws” of the city when determining whether to execute the arrest warrant.
When pressed by Garcia-Navarro about what he meant by following the laws, Mamdani replied, “That’s an active conversation with our legal department.” He emphasized that this is not merely a personal assessment of Benjamin Netanyahu, but rather a consideration of the International Criminal Court warrant and the legal weight it carries.
“We’re not talking about a personal assessment of Benjamin Netanyahu,” the mayor said. “We’re talking about the International Criminal Court and the fact that they have a warrant out for this prime minister’s arrest, and I think it’s important to talk about the weight that that has as a charge and that also, as the mayor of New York City, I’ll be following the laws of New York City.”
