NYC Mayor Looks at Possibly Arresting Israel’s Leader If He Visits

What’s Going On? (The Simple Version)

Imagine a city mayor (like the boss of a big town) thinking: “If a foreign president or prime minister comes to visit, and there’s a worldwide “wanted” note for him, can I tell my police to lock him up?” That’s kind of what’s happening in New York City right now.

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani said he is checking whether his team could arrest Benjamin Netanyahu (the leader, or prime minister, of Israel) if Netanyahu visits NYC in September for a big meeting of world leaders called the UN General Assembly.

Who Said What?

• Mamdani spoke on a podcast by the New York Times on Saturday.
• He said the same kind of thing last year when he was running to become mayor and won.
• He said: “I believe Netanyahu belongs in The Hague.”
  • The Hague is a city in the Netherlands.
  • It is home to the International Criminal Court (ICC) — a sort of world court that can say a leader did something very bad and should be arrested.

Why Does the Court Want Netanyahu?

The ICC says Netanyahu did bad things in Gaza (a place where many Palestinians live). In November 2024, the ICC said:

• He should be arrested.
• He is accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
• This includes using starvation as a weapon, and murder, persecution, and other cruel acts.

Mamdani called Netanyahu a “war criminal” because of these charges. He said many people agree, because of what Netanyahu’s actions have done over the years.

Can the Mayor Actually Arrest Him?

Here’s the tricky part:

• Mamdani is not sure if he is allowed by law to order the NYPD (New York City’s police) to arrest a foreign leader.
• He said he is talking with the city’s law experts.
• His promise: “Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do. But we won’t make up our own laws.”

Important Point: Mamdani is not writing new rules. He just wants to follow the law and see if arresting Netanyahu is even possible under current laws.

What Happened Before?

During his election campaign, Mamdani:

1. Said Israel’s actions in Gaza were a genocide (trying to wipe out a group of people).
2. Called Netanyahu a war criminal.
3. Told the NY Times in September he would order the NYPD to arrest Netanyahu if he came to NYC.
4. Also said the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023 were a “horrific war crime” (Hamas is a group that attacked Israel).

Legal experts told the Times back then that arresting Netanyahu would be “a practical impossibility” for the mayor and might put him in a fight with the US federal government (the big national government).

Why Is the US Against the Court?

• The US is not part of the ICC and does not listen to its rules.
• In February 2025, US president Donald Trump put money punishments (sanctions) on the ICC, saying it had no power over the US or Israel.
• Trump’s top diplomat, Marco Rubio, recently said he wants to “dismantle” (break apart) the court, claiming it is attacking the US with “so-called international law.”

How Did Others React?

• Netanyahu (facing a hard re-election in October) laughed off the arrest talk on the radio. He said he’s not worried.
  • He also claimed (without proof Mamdani accepts) that Mamdani supports Hamas. Mamdani says no.
  • Netanyahu said: “He’s with the terror actors,” and claimed people who hate Jews and Israel also hate America.
• Danny Danon, Israel’s UN ambassador, said Mamdani (NYC’s first Muslim mayor) is not stopping antisemitism (hatred of Jewish people) in the city.
  • Mamdani replied that he gave more money to an office that fights hate crimes.
  • Danon said Netanyahu will come to NY, speak at the UN with pride, and show Israel’s side.
• Mike Waltz, Trump’s UN ambassador, called Mamdani’s arrest idea “pure political theater” (just for show) because the US is not in the ICC.

A Bigger Picture: Politics Are Changing

World leaders will come to NY in September for the UN meeting, like they do every year.

Mamdani told the podcast:

• This is not about his personal opinion of Netanyahu.
• It’s about the ICC having a warrant (an official arrest order) and the weight of that charge.
• As mayor, he will follow NYC laws.

Also, Mamdani’s views on Israel are becoming more common in the Democratic Party (one of the two big US political groups).

• Recently, almost half of Democratic House members voted to cut $3.3 billion in military help to Israel.
• It didn’t pass, but it shows less automatic support for Israel.
• Polls say regular people are also shifting views.

Mamdani says the war in Gaza is making voters across the country care, including when his supported candidates won big in NY House races in June. He called US policy on Gaza and Palestine “bankrupt” (broken and failing).

Summary

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani is checking if he can legally arrest Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits in September, because the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over Gaza war crimes. Mamdani says he will only do what the law allows and won’t invent new laws. The US doesn’t recognize the ICC, and Trump’s team opposes it. Netanyahu and other officials dismiss the arrest idea, while Mamdani says it’s about respecting the court’s charges. Meanwhile, US political support for Israel is showing cracks.

FAQ

1. What is the ICC?

The International Criminal Court is like a world judge system in The Hague. It can accuse leaders of huge crimes like war crimes and say they should be arrested.

2. Why would Netanyahu come to New York?

He usually goes to the UN General Assembly in September, where leaders from many countries meet and give speeches.

3. Can a city mayor arrest a foreign prime minister?

Probably not easily. The mayor isn’t sure he has the legal power, and experts say it would be very hard and could clash with the national US government.

4. Does the US listen to the ICC?

No. The US is not a member and says the ICC has no authority over it or Israel.

5. What did Mamdani say about Hamas?

He condemned the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel as a “horrific war crime,” while also criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza.