Democratic socialist and New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani confirmed he stands by his pledge to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should the Israeli leader visit the city.
Mamdani insisted New York must “be in compliance with international criminal law,” citing the ICC arrest warrant as justification.
His comments drew immediate skepticism from fellow Democrats. Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York called the proposal “simply unrealistic,” pointing out that “The City of New York has no jurisdiction to do such a thing.”
Mamdani’s pledge first surfaced in December of 2024 when posed the question if he would welcome Netanyahu to New York City.
“No. As mayor, New York City would arrest Benjamin Netanyahu. This is a city that our values are in line with international law. It’s time that our actions are also,” Mamdani asserted. “It’s time that we actually step up and make clear what we are willing to do to showcase the leadership that is sorely missing in the federal administration,” he went on to add.
Netanyahu dismissed Mamdani’s threat as “silly in many ways” and expressed no concern. He said he planned to come to New York with former President Trump and challenged Mamdani’s ability to enforce such a command.
Mamdani did, however, release a statement on Monday, celebrating the release of Israeli hostages from Hamas: “Today’s scenes of Israelis and Palestinians are profoundly moving… Israeli hostages being freed and families reunited after years of fear, uncertainty, and torture; the first days in Gaza without relentless Israeli bombardment as families return to rubble and loved ones freed from detention.”
“There is finally a glimmer of hope that this ceasefire will hold and the long difficult work of reconstruction can begin. I also know this news brings solace to millions of New Yorkers, who’ve felt the pain of the past few years. We have watched as our tax dollars have funded a genocide. The moral and human cost will be a lasting stain and requires accountability and real examination of our collective conscience and our government’s policies,” he went on to add.
