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.”
