Mamdani Raises Prospect of Netanyahu's Arrest if He Attends UN Assembly in New York

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said his administration is examining whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be arrested if he attends the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Speaking on The New York Times' The Interview podcast, Mamdani reiterated his longstanding position that Netanyahu should face proceedings at The Hague over allegations of war crimes, referencing the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2024. He said the city's legal department is actively reviewing the issue while stressing that any action must remain within the bounds of the law.

The ICC's warrants against Netanyahu and other Israeli officials stem from allegations related to the war in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. The move has been strongly opposed by successive U.S. administrations, with Washington maintaining that it is not a party to the Rome Statute that established the ICC and is therefore not obligated to enforce the court's decisions. U.S. officials have repeatedly criticised the ICC's actions, arguing that it lacks jurisdiction over non-member states in such matters.

Mamdani's remarks have drawn sharp reactions from American and Israeli officials. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz dismissed the comments as "pure political theater," while Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, insisted that Netanyahu would attend the General Assembly and defend Israel's position before the international community.

The controversy has further highlighted the legal and diplomatic tensions surrounding the ICC's warrants and the broader debate over accountability for the conflict in Gaza.