New York: Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, has announced that if elected, he would order the NYPD to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit the city.
Mamdani said the action would be in line with the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Netanyahu, whom he accused of committing “genocide in Gaza.”
The mayoral hopeful stressed that New York must not serve as a safe haven for leaders facing international war crimes allegations.
His remarks have drawn both support and criticism, highlighting the sharp political divides over the conflict in Gaza and U.S. relations with Israel.
“This is something that I intend to fulfill,” he told The New York Times, adding that New York must “stand up for international law.”
Legal experts, however, dismissed the proposal as legally impossible and likely to violate federal law. “This isn’t even a close call,” said Matthew Waxman, a Columbia Law School professor, calling Mamdani’s remarks “more a political stunt than a serious law-enforcement policy.”
The US government does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC, and presidents from both major parties have opposed its authority. Netanyahu dismissed Mamdani’s comments, calling them “silly.”
The pledge is expected to deepen political divides in New York, where pro-Palestinian sentiment has grown but many Jewish leaders remain cautious of Mamdani’s outspoken criticism of Israel.
ICC Warrant
On September 11, 2025, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Both face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the October 7 attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza.
According to the court, Netanyahu bears responsibility for actions including starvation as a weapon of war and persecution of civilians. Israel rejected the warrants as “absurd and antisemitic.”
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Although the ICC lacks its own enforcement mechanism, the warrants could complicate travel for Netanyahu and Gallant, as ICC member states are legally obligated to arrest them.
The decision marked the first time an Israeli leader has faced such international charges, drawing sharp opposition from the United States and fueling global debate over accountability in the Gaza conflict.