New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani admitted in a well-edited video filmed in his office that he has no enforcement authority for the ICC arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Abu Ali Express. The report describes Mamdani as backtracking while launching attacks on Netanyahu. The US ambassador to the UN previously called the arrest threat 'political theater.'
In a video released Tuesday evening, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani acknowledged that he lacks the authority to enforce the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while simultaneously launching personal attacks on Netanyahu. The video, filmed in his office, represents the latest development in a rapid sequence of statements on Tuesday, where Mamdani moved from threatening to use his authority to arrest Netanyahu to admitting he has no such power, and now adding a combative tone.
The story unfolded Tuesday evening, as The Zioneer reported at 21:53 Jerusalem. Mamdani initially defended the ICC warrant push, saying he was examining legal avenues. He then admitted he had no authority to order an arrest, and later called on the federal government to act. In a subsequent video, he called Netanyahu a 'war criminal' and urged the federal government to arrest him. The latest video, released the same evening, repeats his lack of authority while attacking Netanyahu. The multiple statements were published nearly simultaneously, with no clear break between the admissions and the attacks.
The Zioneer previously reported on the broader reaction to Mamdani's threats. US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz dismissed the episode as 'political theater' on Sunday, July 19, at 19:05 Jerusalem. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) called Mamdani a 'complete clown' on Tuesday, July 21, at 22:15 Jerusalem. Israeli officials, including Consul General Ofir Akunis and UN Ambassador Danny Danon, rejected the threat from the outset, with Danon suggesting Mamdani himself should be arrested. An analysis published by the Times of Israel on July 20 suggested the episode would boost both men's political brands.
It remains unclear whether Mamdani's latest video, which combines an admission of impotence with personal attacks, will further undermine his credibility on the issue or, as some analysts have suggested, strengthen his standing among left-wing constituents.
7 developments
- StrongIsraeli officials dismiss Mamdani's arrest threat against Netanyahu; Danon says he should be arrested
- DevelopingNetanyahu compares NYC Mayor Mamdani to Imran Khan, says he is deflecting from failures
- StrongTrump reportedly rejects NYC mayor's threat to arrest Netanyahu during UN visit
- StrongNYC Mayor Mamdani: Netanyahu is a 'war criminal,' should be in The Hague — but no new laws
Source and signal
- Internal intake