Mamdani: "If Netanyahu comes to New York, and I am mayor, we will arrest him" | WATCH

New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a candidate in the 2025 New York City mayoral race, has sparked intense debate with a striking pledge: if elected mayor, he would order the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he set foot in the city.

In a recent interview, Mamdani articulated a vision for New York City that aligns its actions with international law, even in the face of federal resistance and the United States’ non-signatory status to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

When pressed by the interviewer on what he would do if Netanyahu visited New York City during his mayoral term, Mamdani was unequivocal. “We will arrest him,” he declared. “Our values are in line with international law; it’s time our actions are also.”

The interviewer challenged Mamdani, pointing out that the United States is not a signatory to the ICC’s Rome Statute, which obligates member states to enforce the court’s warrants. Mamdani’s response was pointed: “It’s time we step up and make clear what we are willing to do to showcase what is clearly missing in the federal administration.”

The U.S. government, a staunch ally of Israel, has rejected the ICC’s warrants, with the Biden administration calling them “outrageous” and the incoming Trump administration issuing sanctions against ICC personnel in February 2025. Mamdani’s defiance of this federal stance highlights a broader tension between local progressive movements and national foreign policy, especially as the U.S. continues to provide significant military aid to Israel despite international criticism.

Mamdani’s critics also point to his broader views on Israel, including his support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which some argue he has downplayed during the campaign. “When Mamdani announced he would… arrest Netanyahu, he set himself up to be asked any & all questions about Israel. And his answers, frankly, stink,” one X user posted.