New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has indicated that his administration is considering whether to order the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the leader’s visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September. Mamdani, a leftist politician who took office in January, said in a recent interview that he is consulting with the city’s legal team to determine if the New York Police Department (NYPD) has the authority to detain a sitting foreign head of government in such circumstances.
“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague,” Mamdani said, referring to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024 on allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The ICC’s warrant stems from its investigation into actions taken during the 2023 conflict, which followed deadly attacks by Hamas militants on Israel in October 2023.
Mamdani emphasized the importance of adhering to the law, stating that any action taken would be within legal boundaries. “That’s an active conversation with our legal department,” he said, adding that the city has no interest in circumventing legal norms. During his campaign, Mamdani vowed to seek enforcement of arrest warrants issued by the ICC against various world leaders, including Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The prospect of an attempt to arrest Netanyahu has generated significant controversy. Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, strongly condemned Mamdani’s statements, calling them an incitement that detracts from addressing issues such as rising antisemitism in New York City. Danon said Netanyahu would attend the UN General Assembly and deliver a speech defending Israel’s right to security. “It will not change a thing,” Danon wrote on social media, also suggesting that if anyone should face arrest, it should be Mayor Mamdani himself.
Netanyahu has previously accused Mamdani of harboring support for Hamas, a charge the mayor has not publicly addressed. The Israeli prime minister dismissed the ICC’s warrant as politically motivated and antisemitic, arguing it aimed to deter Israel from defending itself against militant threats.
The ICC’s investigation and resulting warrant have drawn criticism from successive U.S. administrations. Both former President Joe Biden and current President Donald Trump have rejected the tribunal’s actions against Netanyahu, framing them as unjust and harmful to Israel’s security interests. The Trump administration notably imposed sanctions on ICC officials for pursuing probes into Israel, underscoring the contentious nature of the legal proceedings at the international level.
Domestically, the U.S. political landscape shows varied opinions on support for Israel amid the conflict. A recent vote in the House of Representatives saw 103 Democrats backing a proposal to cut military aid to Israel, though the amendment did not pass. This division reflects ongoing debate within American politics regarding the country’s stance on Israel and the Gaza conflict.
As the UN General Assembly approaches, the legal and diplomatic implications of Mamdani’s potential move remain uncertain. The New York mayor’s office continues to assess the situation while Netanyahu prepares to attend the high-profile international gathering.