New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he is exploring legal avenues that could allow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be arrested if he visits New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) scheduled for September 2026.
The remarks come after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed during Israel's military campaign in Gaza. The charges include allegations that starvation was used as a method of warfare, along with other acts that prosecutors describe as serious violations of international law.
Mamdani, who has previously described Israel's military operations in Gaza as genocide, first made the pledge during his campaign for New York City mayor, saying he would seek Netanyahu's arrest should the Israeli leader enter the city.
Speaking during The Interview, a podcast produced by The New York Times that aired on Saturday, Mamdani was asked whether he still stood by his earlier commitment.
"I believe Prime Minister Netanyahu should be in The Hague," Mamdani said, referring to the Dutch city where the International Criminal Court is headquartered and where individuals accused of serious international crimes are prosecuted.
He added that Netanyahu had been accused of war crimes by the ICC and argued that many people support the court's position based on the Israeli leader's actions over recent years.
However, legal experts note that arresting a sitting head of government attending official United Nations events would be highly complex. Foreign leaders participating in UN activities are generally granted diplomatic protections and certain legal immunities while on official missions, which could make any attempt to detain Netanyahu difficult.
Despite these legal obstacles, Mamdani said his administration is consulting with New York City's legal department to determine what actions, if any, would be legally permissible.
"We will do whatever the law allows us to do in New York City," Mamdani said. "But we are not going to invent our own laws to achieve that objective."
Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, strongly criticized Mamdani's comments, accusing the mayor of promoting hostility toward Israel instead of confronting antisemitism.
Danon confirmed that Netanyahu is expected to address world leaders during the UN General Assembly's high-level week, scheduled to take place from September 22 to 28, 2026, and dismissed Mamdani's remarks as having no practical effect.
In a post on X, Danon wrote, "If anyone should be arrested, it is New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani."
Netanyahu also downplayed Mamdani's statements, accusing the mayor of supporting Hamas and expressing hostility toward the United States.
Although Mamdani has pledged to pursue Netanyahu's arrest, the legal and diplomatic realities remain significant. Neither the United States nor Israel is a member of the International Criminal Court, and both countries reject the court's jurisdiction over their nationals.
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