NextFin news, New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, representing the Democratic Party, declared on Saturday that if elected mayor, he would instruct the New York Police Department to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately upon his arrival in New York City.
Mamdani labeled Netanyahu a "war criminal" responsible for genocide in Gaza and said he would honor the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant against Netanyahu, despite the United States not being a member of the ICC and not recognizing its jurisdiction. He stated that the police would be ordered to detain Netanyahu at the airport if he visits the city, emphasizing that New York must uphold international law and human rights.
The ICC warrant accuses Netanyahu and another senior Israeli official of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including deliberately depriving Gaza's civilian population of essential supplies such as food, water, and medicine. Mamdani criticized Netanyahu's military decisions as causing civilian deaths in the Middle East, even during past visits to New York.
Legal experts have noted that such an arrest order would be practically impossible to implement and could conflict with federal law. Nonetheless, Mamdani affirmed his commitment to this pledge, stating, "I intend to carry this out. New York must not be a safe haven for war criminals."
Netanyahu dismissed Mamdani's threat as "absurd," and during a White House meeting with former President Donald Trump, he challenged the idea of being arrested, saying, "I'll be in New York with President Trump—then let's see what happens." Trump also warned Mamdani to "be careful" or face "serious trouble." Both Netanyahu and Trump have expressed skepticism about Mamdani's candidacy and potential victory.
Mamdani's stance has gained notable attention and support. A recent New York Times–Siena University poll showed Mamdani leading the mayoral race with 46 percent support among likely voters, including a slight lead among Jewish voters with approximately 30 percent backing. His closest competitors include incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, the latter of whom has expressed strong support for Israel and even offered to join Netanyahu's legal defense team following the ICC warrant.
The New York mayoral election is scheduled for November 4, 2025. Mamdani's pledge to arrest Netanyahu if elected has sparked widespread discussion about international law, local authority, and the political climate in New York City.
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