NYC Mayor Calls Netanyahu War Criminal, Can't Arrest Him

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani launched fresh attacks against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a CNN interview conducted shortly after a meeting with President Donald Trump. Mamdani labeled Netanyahu a "war criminal" and "architect of genocide," while simultaneously clarifying that he possesses no legal authority to arrest the Israeli leader upon his arrival in New York.

"When it comes to Benjamin Netanyahu, I've described him as I believe he is - a war criminal and architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people," Mamdani stated in the interview. Despite his harsh rhetoric, he acknowledged the limits of his municipal powers, explaining that he lacks the legal jurisdiction to detain the Israeli prime minister during visits to the city.

The mayor also invoked the authority of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. "If the International Criminal Court determines that someone deserves arrest for violating these laws, who are we to say that someone should be above that?" Mamdani asked. "And I think it's very clear that everyone should be held accountable," he added.

This is not Mamdani's first public confrontation with the Israeli prime minister. Last July, he called on New Yorkers opposed to Netanyahu to exercise their right to protest during his visit to the city. "One of the foundations of our city is protest," he said at the time, emphasizing that New York would continue to be a place where freedom of expression could be exercised.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon sharply criticized Mamdani following his calls for demonstrations. "Instead of welcoming world leaders and ensuring the city functions properly, he's doing exactly the opposite," Danon told Fox News. "He's inciting, he's sowing chaos in the city." According to Danon, the calls for protests would not affect the visit: "It won't deter us. The prime minister will come, will speak, and will represent our nation."