New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has reaffirmed his stance that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested if he visits New York for the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, saying discussions are ongoing with legal experts to determine what authority the city has in such a situation.
In an interview with The New York Times published on Saturday, Mamdani said he believes Netanyahu should face justice at The Hague, referring to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant. He described the Israeli leader as a “war criminal” and argued that many people share that view because of the impact of Israel’s military actions in recent years.
Mamdani, who had made a similar pledge during his mayoral campaign, acknowledged that he is uncertain whether a mayor has the legal authority to order the arrest of a foreign head of government. He said the city is seeking legal advice and that any decision would be made within the limits of the law.
“Whatever the law permits us to do in New York City, we will do,” Mamdani said.
His remarks drew a strong reaction from Israeli officials. Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, accused Mamdani of targeting Israel instead of addressing issues affecting New York City, including the rise of antisemitism.
In a post on X, Danon said Netanyahu would attend the UN General Assembly as planned and would continue to defend Israel’s position on the global stage. He also claimed that if anyone should face arrest, it should be Mamdani rather than the Israeli Prime Minister.
The exchange follows recent criticism by Netanyahu, who, during a New York radio interview, accused Mamdani of supporting Hamas and alleged that the mayor harbors anti-American views.
The controversy has added to the growing political tensions surrounding Netanyahu’s expected visit to New York for the annual UN gathering.
