Key Takeaways
- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is considering whether to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Netanyahu faces charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
- Mamdani believes Netanyahu should be tried at The Hague but is unsure about his legal authority.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has sparked international attention after indicating he may arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if the latter visits New York for the UN General Assembly in September. According to a recent interview with The New York Times, Mamdani stated that he believes Netanyahu ‘belongs in the Hague,’ referring to the International Criminal Court (ICC) where he is wanted on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, faces multiple legal challenges. He currently stands accused by the ICC for alleged actions during his military operations in Gaza, including starvation as a method of warfare. Mamdani’s comments come amid growing international pressure to hold Netanyahu accountable for these alleged offenses.
During an interview on The New York Times’ ‘The Interview,’ Mayor Mamdani expressed his intention to arrest Netanyahu if he visits the city. He had previously condemned Hamas, a Palestinian resistance movement, during his mayoral campaign in September 2025, describing it as a 'terrorist organisation.' However, Netanyahu dismissed these threats, accusing the mayor of supporting Hamas and suggesting that Mamdani should reconsider his stance.
Mamdani’s administration is currently mulling over whether they have the legal authority to detain Netanyahu. While he stated that ‘whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do,’ he acknowledged that they are not writing new laws for this purpose. The NYC mayor’s decision hinges on his interpretation of existing municipal and federal laws.
Netanyahu, who is also facing a long-running corruption trial, has expressed little concern about the potential arrest. In an interview with Sid Rosenberg, a frequent critic of Mamdani, Netanyahu stated, ‘I think he should look at who he’s condemning, who he’s praising.’ This statement underscores the complex political and legal landscape surrounding this issue.
The decision to potentially arrest Netanyahu is particularly significant given his upcoming election on October 27. Many observers believe this could be a defining moment in Netanyahu’s political career. His current position as Israel’s longest-serving prime minister makes any legal action against him highly contentious and politically charged.
While Mamdani’s intentions are clear, the practicalities of arresting a foreign head of state remain uncertain. Legal experts and international law scholars will play crucial roles in determining whether such an arrest can be legally justified under current municipal laws.
I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in the Hague.
Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor
I think he should look at who he’s condemning, who he’s praising.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister
