New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani defended his efforts to push for the arrest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, citing the International Criminal Court warrant. Mamdani said NYC lawyers are still determining whether he has the authority to order the arrest when Netanyahu visits in September for the UN General Assembly.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday evening defended his push to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when the Israeli leader visits New York in September for the UN General Assembly, citing the International Criminal Court warrant. 'I believe that when someone is charged with an International Criminal Court warrant, it's something that should be taken seriously, whether it's Benjamin Netanyahu, or it's Vladimir Putin or whomever else,' Mamdani said. He added that NYC lawyers are still examining whether he has the authority to order the arrest.
Mamdani's statement follows a wave of rejections from Israeli and US officials. Earlier Tuesday, Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon delivered a sharp speech at the UN, telling Mamdani that his threat has no legal basis and that 'the one who should be arrested is not our prime minister — but you.' President Trump also reportedly dismissed the threat, saying it will not happen. The US ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, had previously stated that the US is not a party to the ICC and that federal law and diplomatic protections prevent such an arrest.
Mamdani's initial threat, made earlier this month, has drawn broad criticism from Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, who compared Mamdani to Imran Khan and accused him of deflecting from his own failures. The legal question of whether a city mayor can enforce an ICC warrant — while the US is not a signatory — remains unresolved, and Mamdani's admission that his lawyers are still studying the matter suggests no immediate action is expected.
- StrongIsraeli officials dismiss Mamdani's arrest threat against Netanyahu; Danon says he should be arrested
- StrongNYC Mayor Mamdani: Netanyahu is a 'war criminal,' should be in The Hague — but no new laws
- DevelopingTimes of Israel: Mamdani's arrest threat against Netanyahu would boost both men's political brands
- DevelopingNetanyahu compares NYC Mayor Mamdani to Imran Khan, says he is deflecting from failures
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