NYC Mayor Mamdani says Netanyahu ICC warrant must be 'taken seriously'

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday said the International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be "taken seriously," directly contrasting with US President Donald Trump's earlier statement that the Israeli leader would face no arrest in the United States.

War Crimes Allegations

Speaking at a press conference, Mamdani emphasized that Netanyahu faces charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes stemming from the conflict in Gaza. "We're speaking about someone who's the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant," he said, noting that the Israeli premier stands accused as "the architect of the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza." He stressed that his position rests on facts of public record rather than personal opinion, citing documented evidence of civilian casualties and infrastructure destruction in the Palestinian territory.

"I believe that when someone is charged with an International Criminal Court warrant, it's something that should be taken seriously—whether it's Benjamin Netanyahu or it's Vladimir Putin or whomever else," Mamdani stated, adding that his administration would follow all applicable local laws. He reiterated that any individual facing such charges should be held accountable under international legal standards. The mayor emphasized that municipal authorities would act within the bounds of New York law while respecting the gravity of the international court's accusations.

White House Response

Mamdani's remarks came hours after Trump declared on Truth Social that Netanyahu "will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America." The president's statement directly challenged the legitimacy of the ICC warrant issued in November 2024 for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The warrants followed months of international scrutiny over Israeli military operations that have killed tens of thousands of Palestinians since October 2023. Earlier, Mamdani told The New York Times that his administration's legal department was examining the possibility of arresting Netanyahu should he visit New York, maintaining that the Israeli leader "belongs in The Hague" — a reference to the Dutch city hosting the international tribunal.