New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has publicly affirmed that if elected, he believes the city should enforce potential International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, drawing a direct parallel between the Israeli leader and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Mamdani’s comments, made during a recent interview on CNN, addressed previous assertions that he would seek to have Netanyahu arrested should the Prime Minister attend the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York next year.
Upholding International Law
While acknowledging his position is bound by existing legal avenues, Mamdani insisted that his administration would prioritize international jurisprudence and transparency.
"I think that our city should uphold the warrants that the International Criminal Court issues, whether for Benjamin Netanyahu or Valdimir Putin," Mamdani declared. He quickly added a disclaimer: "Also, I am not Donald Trump. I will follow the laws as they are, not bend them to my will. We will pursue every legal avenue to make sure that accountability is present."
The candidate framed his stance as a matter of civic principle:
"I have said time and time again that this is a city that believes in international law. This is a city that deserves to have our values reflected in our commitments."
