'Netanyahu belongs in the Hague': Mamdani considering Israel PM's arrest during NYC visit

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is actively examining the city's legal authority to take action should Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visit New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September. His administration is consulting with the city's legal team to determine what powers, if any, the mayor's office can exercise.

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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.

"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 in discussions with The New York Times. He described the ongoing conversations with the city's law department as "active."

Mamdani did not shy away from his strong criticism of the Israeli leader, asserting, "I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in the Hague." He further elaborated, "He's a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court." The mayor suggested this view is widely held internationally due to Netanyahu's actions over recent years.

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I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in the Hague.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant. They are accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel's military campaign in Gaza. The court cited reasonable grounds to believe the leaders bear criminal responsibility for using starvation as a method of warfare, restricting essential humanitarian supplies, and intentionally directing attacks against civilians. Israel has vehemently denied these allegations, calling the ICC's claims "absurd and false."

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