‘Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague’: NYC Mayor Mamdani consulting legal advisers on arresting Israeli PM

WEB DESK: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he is actively consulting with city legal advisers to determine if local authorities have the jurisdiction to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September.

Speaking in an interview with The New York Times, Mamdani reiterated his campaign stance that Netanyahu should face international justice over Israel’s military actions in Gaza, following an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague,” Mamdani said. “He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court. And what you will find is that is an opinion that is held by many, purely because of what his actions have wrought over these last many years.”

Mamdani, who made the pledge to arrest the Israeli leader during his mayoral campaign, noted that he is currently in discussion with the city’s law department regarding local executive authority. However, he clarified that any action taken would remain strictly within the bounds of existing statutes.

“Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do, but we won’t be writing our own laws to that end,” the mayor said.

Diplomatic stance and campaign background

Responding to the statements, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, insisted that Netanyahu intends to travel to New York for the UNGA session despite the potential for legal action.

Mamdani’s mayoral campaign saw significant friction over his foreign policy positions, during which he faced personal attacks and Islamophobic rhetoric from political opponents. Former campaign rivals previously faced backlash for derogatory comments made against him prior to his election win.

The legal review comes amid growing debate over municipal authority versus federal diplomatic immunity, as foreign leaders attending UN functions in New York typically operate under diplomatic protections granted by federal and international agreements.

Shifting Democratic sentiment on Israel

Mamdani’s election victory and his stance on Netanyahu reflect a broader shift within the Democratic Party regarding American foreign policy in the Middle East. Recent survey data indicates growing skepticism among Democratic voters toward military assistance for Israel.

A poll conducted in May showed that nearly 75 per cent of Democratic voters now oppose US aid to Israel, up from 45 per cent three years ago. Additionally, nearly half of those surveyed expressed the view that the party leadership remains overly supportive of the Israeli government.

This trend has begun to manifest within legislative proceedings in Washington. Earlier this week, nearly half of the Democratic members in the US House of Representatives voted in favour of a measure to end US military aid to Israel, marking a notable departure from historical voting patterns on the issue.