New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani reviewing if he can arrest Netanyahu if he enters New York

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said that he is exploring whether his administration could arrest Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he attends the September United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Mamdani, speaking on The New York Times' The Interview podcast, said the administration's legal department are actively discussing the matter, echoing his promise to the publication that he made during his successful mayoral campaign last Autumn.

"I believe that prime minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague," Mamdani said, referring to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Netherlands, that issued a warrant for Netanyahu's arrest in November 2024.

"He's a war criminal who has been charged by the international criminal court, 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."

It is unclear whether legally The New York police department (NYPD) has the authority to detain the Israeli prime minister.

"Whatever the law allows me to in New York City, that's what we will do," Mamdani added. "But we won't be writing our own laws to that end."

The warrant issued by the ICC has accused Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. However, The United States does not recognise the ICC's authority. President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden have denounced the warrant, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio promising to "dismantle" the ICC.

Netanyahu addressed Mamdani's call for his arrest in a recent radio appearance. "He's with the terror actors," Netanyahu told New York's WABC.

"And I think the problem is that he doesn't recognise and he doesn't care that those who hate the jews and Israel ultimately hate America."

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, has said on social media that Netanyahu "will come to New York, address the United Nations General Assembly with pride, and stand before the world to state Israel's truth and its unwavering right to defend its citizens."

Danon has accused Mamdani of failing to confront rising antisemitism in New York City, despite the increased funding for an office to combat hate crimes by the Mamdani administration.

Close to half of US House Democrats voted on Wednesday to end US military aid ($.3.3 bn) to Israel. There was not enough support to pass the measure, though it demonstrates a shift in the party's attitude towards support for Israel, which is reflected in public opinion polling.

Mamdani also told The Interview that the war was motivating voters throughout the country, including in House races, referring to the candidates he endorsed that won primaries in June.

"It is hard to find a more bankrupt policy approach than what our country has done to Gaza and to Palestine," he added.