New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is exploring the possibility of ordering the New York Police Department to detain Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an upcoming United Nations summit, though he acknowledges uncertainty regarding his legal authority to do so.
Mamdani expressed his belief that Prime Minister Netanyahu "belongs in The Hague," citing the International Criminal Court's (ICC) charges against him. In an interview with The New York Times, the mayor stated, "I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague. He's a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court." Mamdani, a vocal critic of Israel's government, added that this sentiment is "held by many, purely because of what his actions have wrought over these last many years."
The mayor confirmed he is currently consulting with the city's legal counsel to determine the extent of his powers. "Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that's what we will do," Mamdani stated, referencing discussions about potential actions during the UN General Assembly in September.
Mamdani has previously indicated a willingness to deploy the NYPD to enforce arrest warrants issued by the ICC against leaders, including Prime Minister Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The ICC announced in 2024 that it had found reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu bears responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity stemming from Israel's operations in Gaza, following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.
Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, strongly criticized Mamdani's remarks. He posted on X, "Instead of focusing on his responsibilities as mayor and confronting the rising wave of antisemitism in his city, he has chosen to incite hostility and generate headlines by attacking the State of Israel." Danon asserted that Netanyahu would attend the UN General Assembly and "stand before the world to state Israel's truth and its unwavering right to defend its citizens," adding, "And if anyone should be arrested, it is @NYCMayor Zohran Mamdani."
Prime Minister Netanyahu, in response to Mamdani's statements on a recent radio program, accused the mayor of supporting Hamas and suggested, "I think, secretly, he hates America."
