The Mamdani Fixation: Mayor Again Calls for Netanyahu Arrest

NEW YORK (VINnews) – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is renewing his push for the United States to join the International Criminal Court and enforce its arrest warrants, including the warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mamdani made the remarks during a lengthy appearance on comedian Theo Von’s “This Past Weekend” podcast that aired Thursday, once again turning the conversation toward Israel, Gaza and Netanyahu.

“I believe that the U.S. government should join the ICC,” Mamdani said, adding that the United States should enforce its warrants against everyone subject to them.

When Von asked whether Mamdani would have arrested Netanyahu if he had the authority, the mayor said he would want the federal government to join the ICC and honor every warrant it has issued.

Mamdani had campaigned on a pledge to arrest Netanyahu if the Israeli leader came to New York. After taking office, however, he acknowledged that New York City does not have the legal authority to enforce the ICC warrant and that any such action would fall under federal authority.

During the podcast, Mamdani described Netanyahu as the “architect of a horrific genocide,” referring to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Israel rejects allegations that it is committing genocide, while the ICC warrant against Netanyahu concerns alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Mamdani argued that failing to enforce international law weakens confidence in the international system created after World War II.

“The more that people see someone breaking a law or a rule and there being no accountability for it,” Mamdani said, “the more they begin to ask whether those rules have any value at all.”

The comments come just days after Netanyahu sharply criticized Mamdani during his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Netanyahu accused Mamdani of contributing to an environment in which Jews no longer feel safe in New York and criticized the mayor’s repeated characterization of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Mamdani dismissed Netanyahu’s comments during the podcast as an effort to divert attention from the allegations against the Israeli prime minister.

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

The mayor also addressed the distinction between criticism of Israel and antisemitism, saying Jewish New Yorkers should not be held responsible for the actions of the Israeli government.

“No Jewish person in New York City is responsible for the actions of the State of Israel,” Mamdani said, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Mamdani also pointed to his administration’s newly announced strategy to combat antisemitism in New York City, saying the city must protect Jewish New Yorkers while allowing criticism of Israel and its policies.

The podcast discussion also touched on Gaza, U.S. military aid to Israel and the future of American foreign policy. Mamdani argued that U.S. policy should place greater emphasis on humanitarian concerns for Palestinians as well as Americans.

The renewed comments add another chapter to the increasingly public dispute between Mamdani and Netanyahu, which intensified during Netanyahu’s visit to New York for the U.N. General Assembly.

The United States and Israel are not members of the ICC and do not recognize its jurisdiction in the Netanyahu case. The ICC issued the arrest warrant in 2024 based on allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity; the allegations have been rejected by Israel.