New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has declared that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would face arrest if he sets foot in the city, labeling him a war criminal.
In an interview with The New York Times on Friday, Mamdani stated that Netanyahu “belongs in The Hague,” referencing the International Criminal Court warrant against the Israeli leader for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The mayor revealed he has been in discussions with the city's law department to explore legal avenues for arresting Netanyahu.
The United Nations General Assembly is scheduled for September, and Netanyahu may travel to New York for the session, potentially testing Mamdani's threat.
U. S.
Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz dismissed the remarks as “pure political theater,” citing the UN Headquarters Agreement that protects visiting heads of government from arrest.
Waltz made clear that Netanyahu would not be handcuffed in New York.
