New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has reiterated his intention to explore the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should the leader visit the city for the United Nations General Assembly in September. In an interview with The New York Times released Saturday, Mamdani confirmed he is in “active conversation” with the city’s legal department to determine the municipality’s authority regarding International Criminal Court (ICC) warrants.
Mamdani, who campaigned on a platform of holding Netanyahu accountable for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, stated, “I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague.” The ICC has sought arrest warrants for Netanyahu, citing the Israeli military’s conduct during the conflict in Gaza. However, the Mayor’s stance has drawn immediate and sharp rebukes from federal officials and diplomatic representatives.
Mike Waltz, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, dismissed the Mayor’s comments as “pure political theater.” Waltz emphasized that the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, and therefore does not recognize its warrants. Furthermore, Waltz noted that the UN Headquarters Agreement provides visiting heads of government with diplomatic protections and head-of-state immunity, asserting that “federal authority trumps any local mayor’s wishes.”
Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon also condemned the Mayor’s remarks, suggesting that Mamdani is failing to govern New York while inciting hostility. Danon stated that Netanyahu would address the General Assembly as planned to defend Israel’s actions. Meanwhile, legal experts and former prosecutors warned that any attempt by municipal police to arrest a foreign head of state could result in federal conspiracy charges against city officials, as it would violate federal law and international treaties.
Within New York, the Mayor faces domestic criticism for shifting focus to foreign policy. Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY), argued that the mayor should focus on local issues such as worker pay and city safety rather than international legal disputes. Despite the legal and political barriers, Mamdani’s position reflects a significant shift among segments of the Democratic base regarding U.S.-Israel relations.