Mamdani Says He May Order Netanyahu's Arrest

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has indicated his administration is discussing the possibility of arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit the city for the upcoming UN General Assembly in September.

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I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague.

Mamdani expressed his strong conviction that Netanyahu should face international justice. "I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague," Mamdani told The New York Times' "The Interview" program, referring to the seat of the International Court of Justice. He further labeled Netanyahu as a "war criminal" who has been charged by the International Criminal Court, adding that this view is shared by many due to his actions over the years.

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He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court.

However, the mayor acknowledged uncertainty regarding his legal authority to order the city's Police Department to detain a foreign leader. He described being in "an active conversation" with the city's Law Department to clarify the legal parameters. "Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do, but we won’t be writing our own laws to that end," Mamdani stated.

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And what you will find is that is an opinion that is held by many, purely because of what his actions have wrought over these last many years.

The potential move by the New York mayor comes amid ongoing international scrutiny of Israel's actions in the ongoing conflict. The International Criminal Court has reportedly issued arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, though the specifics of Netanyahu's charges and the court's jurisdiction in this context remain subjects of international legal debate.

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Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do, but we won’t be writing our own laws to that end.