Mamdani says he may arrest Netanyahu during New York City visit

“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague,” Mamdani said during an appearance on the New York Times podcast The Interview this week, referring to the Netherlands, where the ICC is based.Pressed on whether he would direct the New York Police Department to arrest Netanyahu if he entered the city, Mamdani said he was in “an active conversation” with the city officials about the matter. “We’re not talking about a personal assessment of Benjamin Netanyahu,” Mamdani said. “We’re talking about the International Criminal Court and the fact that they have a warrant out for this prime minister’s arrest, and I think it’s important to talk about the weight that that has as a charge and that also, as the mayor of New York City, I’ll be following the laws of New York City.”The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024, alleging that the prime minister committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, including using starvation as a method of warfare and committing other inhumane acts. Israel has rejected the allegations.Netanyahu dismissed Mamdani’s comments during a recent interview with New York radio host Sid Rosenberg, saying he was unconcerned by the threat and accusing the Democratic mayoral nominee of siding with Hamas, whose Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel triggered the war in Gaza.“I think he should look at who he’s condemning, who he’s praising,” Netanyahu said. “He’s condemning Israel, the one democracy that stands shoulder to shoulder with American values.”Mamdani defended his position, arguing that the ICC’s allegations should be taken seriously.“He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court,” Mamdani said. “And what you will find is that is an opinion that is held by many, purely because of what his actions have wrought over these last many years.”Mamdani’s remarks come as the Trump administration has continued its campaign against the International Criminal Court, arguing the tribunal has no jurisdiction over the United States or its allies.RUBIO LAUNCHES EFFORT TO ISOLATE ‘RADICAL AND EXTREME’ ICCPresident Donald Trump has long opposed the ICC, a stance dating back to his first term, and has expanded efforts in his second term to limit the court’s influence. Earlier this week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the tribunal of overstepping its authority and threatening U.S. sovereignty.“It’s a global tribunal staffed by unelected globalist bureaucrats who claim their power is almost unlimited. The danger of this global court has only continued to grow,” Rubio said. “Today, it threatens every aspect of our political and legal system. Border patrol agents removing violent criminals from our country, American Marines risking their lives to defend our homeland, prosecutors working to dismantle terrorist plots to attack and kill Americans.