New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is currently discussing the possibility of attempting to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an upcoming United Nations summit, he revealed in a Saturday interview. This statement has drawn sharp criticism from Netanyahu’s supporters.
Mamdani stated to The New York Times, “I believe Prime Minister Netanyahu should be in The Hague. He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court.” He reiterated his stance by describing Israel as an “apartheid regime,” a view shared by many due to the actions taken over recent years.
While Mamdani acknowledged uncertainty about whether he has the authority to instruct the NYPD to detain a foreign leader, he is consulting with the city’s legal team to explore the options. “We will do whatever the law permits in New York City,” he affirmed.
The UN General Assembly, which convenes in September at the UN headquarters in Manhattan, is often a stage for world leaders. Mamdani has previously vowed to activate the NYPD to execute arrest warrants against international figures, including Netanyahu.
The Hague’s ICC stated in 2024 that there are reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu committed war crimes and crimes against humanity related to Israel’s military actions in Gaza following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, swiftly responded, criticizing Mamdani. “Instead of focusing on his mayoral duties and addressing the rising antisemitism in his city, he has chosen to incite hostility and seek headlines by attacking Israel,” Danon posted on X. “This changes nothing. Prime Minister Netanyahu will address the UN General Assembly with pride and reaffirm Israel’s right to defend itself. As for Mamdani, if anyone should be detained, it’s him.”
Netanyahu has also accused Mamdani of supporting Hamas, claiming on a recent New York radio program that Mamdani “hates America secretly.”