Mamdani, if Elected Mayor, Pledges to Order N.Y.P.D. to Arrest Netanyahu
Source: NY Times
Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City, said that if elected, he would order the New York Police Department to arrest the prime minister of Israel if he sets foot in the city, offering new details on how he plans to carry out a campaign pledge.
Mr. Mamdani said in an interview with The New York Times on Thursday that the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was a war criminal who was committing genocide in Gaza. If the Israeli leader were to come to New York, Mr. Mamdani said, he would honor a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for Mr. Netanyahus arrest by having him apprehended at the airport.
Legal experts suggested that having Mr. Netanyahu arrested would be a practical impossibility, and some said it could violate federal law. Even so, Mr. Mamdanis pledge will likely provoke strong reactions in New York, the second-largest home to Jews in the world.
Although New Yorkers now generally express support for Palestinians over Israel in its war with Hamas, Mr. Mamdanis vow could still complicate his attempt to reassure a segment of Jewish leaders who had expressed concern about some of his stances, including his refusal to condemn the phrase globalize the intifada. He has since said he would discourage the use of the phrase, even as he holds to his position that Israels leader is a war criminal.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/12/nyregion/mamdani-arrest-netanyahu-nyc-mayor.html

JT45242
(3,624 posts)They have the same warrants for war crimes. If either of them set foot in any country in the world, they should be arrested and sent to the ICC to stand trial.
That's how international treaties around the ICC and war crimes are supposed to work.
If Netanyahu is innocent, he will be exonerated. If he is found guilty, he can rot in jail for the rest of his life.
aeromanKC
(3,710 posts)The Hague should have arrested the war criminal yesterday!!
InAbLuEsTaTe
(25,415 posts)yardwork
(68,018 posts)I don't know a single Jewish person who supports Netanyahu. While my experience is limited, I feel certain that many Jewish New Yorkers will agree with Mamdani on this. And those who don't weren't planning to vote for a Democrat or Socialist anyway.
The NYT is so out of touch.
walkingman
(9,829 posts)Polybius
(20,848 posts)Trump wants this, so he can send the military to free him.
LeftInTX
(33,875 posts)AloeVera
(3,725 posts)LeftInTX
(33,875 posts)And Netanyahu has diplomatic immunity. It's just talk.
Mamadani could only have him arrested if he was POTUS and since he's not, it won't happen.
OC375
(260 posts)Learn something new every day.
NYC cops can arrest for crimes committed in their jurisdiction or on warrants from other jurisdictions.
I don't believe there is a warrant from any jurisdiction within the US.
The feds could arrest him on some international crime if they wanted, but they don't have a warrant either.
Unless Netanyahu commits are crime while in NYC (like if he shoplifts, mugs someone etc) , I doubt that arresting him would be legal.
This is basically like Trump saying hell arrest HRC. Got it.
In addition to everything LeftInTX said, Netanyahu has diplomatic immunity due to him being head of state.
JI7
(92,623 posts)and leaders of many other countries .
FBaggins
(28,430 posts)Just because Trump sometimes gets away with it is no excuse
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(128,601 posts)I don't live in New York, so my opinion won't affect the election but as others pointed out that's not for him to say or do. Let him run for national office if he feels that way,
Polybius
(20,848 posts)Cuomo is gonna run on this one.
Mossfern
(4,345 posts)this is grandstanding and will only serve to provoke Trump.
What is he thinking?
mdbl
(7,337 posts)I am afraid it will backfire on him.
CTyankee
(67,059 posts)
ninjanurse
(113 posts)NYT is behind a paywall. Politicians often say unwise things so there might not be any good strategic reason for saying this. I would like the whole context, maybe a clarification of what he meant. History will judge us all for letting the war hawks in Israel do what they are doing.
Grins
(8,831 posts)Ace Rothstein
(3,359 posts)This is an absolutely deranged thing to promote by a mayoral candidate.
Polybius
(20,848 posts)He was a good governor for the most part.