Mamdani says he would order NYPD to arrest Netanyahu if elected mayor

Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s Democratic mayoral nominee, has vowed that if elected, he would instruct the NYPD to arrest 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit the city.

Mamdani said the move would enforce the International Criminal Court’s warrant against Netanyahu, whom he accused of committing “genocide in Gaza.”

“This is something that I intend to fulfill,” he told The New York Times, adding that New York must “stand up for international law.”

Legal experts, however, dismissed the proposal as legally impossible and likely to violate federal law. “This isn’t even a close call,” said Matthew Waxman, a Columbia Law School professor, calling Mamdani’s remarks “more a political stunt than a serious law-enforcement policy.”

The US does not recognize the ICC, and presidents from both parties have opposed its jurisdiction. Netanyahu, who faces charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, has brushed off Mamdani’s threat, calling it “silly.”

The pledge is expected to further polarize New York politics, where support for Palestinians has grown but Jewish leaders remain wary of Mamdani’s outspoken criticism of 'Israel'.

Arrest warrant

On 11 September 2025, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the October 7 attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza.

The court said Netanyahu bears responsibility for crimes including starvation as a method of warfare and persecution, while 'Israel' rejected the warrants as “absurd and antisemitic.” 

Although the ICC has no enforcement mechanism, the warrants could restrict Netanyahu’s and Gallant’s travel, as ICC member states are obliged to arrest them.

The move marked the first time an 'Israeli' leader has faced such international charges, drawing strong opposition from the US and sparking global debate about accountability in the aggression.