Mamdani slams Netanyahu as “architect of horrific genocide,” urges US to join ICC

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has renewed his sharp criticism of ‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, labeling him the “architect of a horrific genocide” and urging the United States to join the International Criminal Court and enforce its arrest warrants, including the one against ‘Israeli’ Prime Minister.

The remarks came during an extensive interview on the podcast This Past Weekend, hosted by comedian Theo Von.

The episode aired weeks after Netanyahu criticized Mamdani during his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

“When you ask about the prime minister, we’re talking about the architect of a horrific genocide,” Mamdani told Von.

He added that Netanyahu’s personal attacks on him were “an attempt to divert attention from accountability. Mention as many people as possible and try to turn it into an exchange. This is not about me and him. This is about the fact that he is the architect of a genocide.”

Mamdani further remarked, “If I were the architect of a genocide, I would probably talk about anything else but that.”

Mamdani reiterated his long-held position that the US should join the ICC.

“I believe that the US government should join the ICC. It should enforce its warrants for everyone,” he said.

When Von noted that the United States is not a member of the court, Mamdani replied, “We’re not. But I believe we should join it, and that we should enforce its warrants.”

The ICC warrant against Netanyahu involves crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Pressed on whether Netanyahu should have been arrested during his recent New York visit, Mamdani clarified the limits of his authority as mayor while doubling down on federal action.

“If it were up to me, the United States government would join the International Criminal Court and honor every arrest warrant it has issued,” he stated.

Mamdani has previously acknowledged that New York City lacks independent legal power to execute the warrant and has called on the federal government to act.

The mayor framed the issue as one of broader accountability and the credibility of international institutions created after World War II.

“We always talk about international law, about the things that began to be created after World War II, about the UN and the idea of multilateralism. A lack of enforcement also undermines their value,” he said.

He also stressed that criticism of ‘Israeli’ government policies is distinct from antisemitism and that Jewish New Yorkers should not be held responsible for the actions of ‘Israel’s’ government.

The comments follow months of tension.

Mamdani had campaigned on pledges related to the ICC warrant issued in 2024 and later released a video acknowledging he could not enforce it locally while calling Netanyahu a “war criminal” who is “not welcome in New York City.”

Netanyahu and ‘Israeli’ officials have rejected the genocide accusations and the ICC’s jurisdiction, with the prime minister previously accusing Mamdani of antisemitism and claiming Jews no longer feel safe in New York under his leadership.

The United States has not joined the ICC, and successive US administrations have opposed the warrant.