New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has confirmed that his administration is exploring the possibility of arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he attends the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Netanyahu is expected to join other world leaders at the UN General Assembly, scheduled to begin on September 8 at the UN Headquarters in New York City.
In an interview with The New York Times, Mamdani described Netanyahu as a “war criminal” who “belongs in The Hague,” referring to the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the Gaza conflict.
The mayor said his administration is consulting with the city’s legal team and the New York Police Department to determine what legal actions, if any, can be taken, adding that they will do “whatever the law allows.”
Reacting to the remarks, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, accused Mamdani of fuelling hostility toward Israel instead of focusing on governing New York City and addressing rising antisemitism.
Danon insisted that Netanyahu would attend the UN General Assembly, present Israel’s position before world leaders and defend the country’s right to protect its citizens. He also said Mamdani should be arrested instead.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Gaza war. However, the Israeli government rejects both the allegations and the court’s jurisdiction, while the United States maintains that the ICC has no authority over countries that are not parties to the Rome Statute.
The development comes as the United States continues its campaign against the ICC, accusing the court of overstepping its mandate and attempting to act as a global enforcement body.
