Will Mamdani arrest Netanyahu in New York?

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani harshly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, branding him a "war criminal" and the "architect of the horrific genocide of Palestinians" in a CNN interview. Prior to his scheduled meeting with US President Donald Trump and his anticipated visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly meetings, Mamdani brought up the importance of respecting the rule of law, referencing the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Netanyahu.

He emphasized that if the ICC considers a person deserving of arrest for violating laws, then no one should be above the law.

A week prior, Mamdani announced he had no intention of joining protests against Netanyahu, stating that he respected opposition and frustration but would always support peaceful protest. His decision against participating in the protests was primarily aimed at avoiding further division within New York’s Jewish community and potential security issues arising from his presence during such events.

During his campaign, Mamdani had vowed to have the New York Police Department arrest Netanyahu if he arrived in the city based on the ICC warrant. However, he later withdrew his pledge, clarifying that he lacks the authority to enforce the ICC warrant. Mamdani detailed the grave consequences of Netanyahu's actions, including the deaths of over 73,000 people and injuries to tens of thousands of children, alongside the denial of basic survival chances to newborns.

When discussing President Trump's recent decision to ban certain media outlets from the White House, Mamdani expressed his intention to allow all media access to his residence.