Mamdani reiterates call to arrest Netanyahu for Gaza attacks

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday reiterated his call for the U.S. government to enforce an international warrant accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of war crimes in Gaza.

Mamdani, who a day earlier posted a social media video indicating the city had no legal authority to arrest Netanyahu when he arrives for the United Nations General Assembly in September, told reporters at a City Hall news conference he would not welcome Israel’s longtime leader as other mayors have.

"I will not be welcoming Benjamin Netanyahu or any other war criminals when they come to this city, and I do believe that our federal government should join the International Criminal Court and ensure that there is accountability when it comes to crimes against humanity," Mamdani said when asked about his Tuesday video.

Mamdani, who campaigned on a promise to have Netanyahu arrested based on the International Criminal Court’s 2024 warrant that accused Netanyahu and Israel's defense minister of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Israel's attacks on Gaza, said a legal analysis determined city authorities had no jurisdiction to enforce the warrant.

"My interest in executing that warrant is not specific to Benjamin Netanyahu, but to anyone who they put a warrant toward for war crimes and crimes against humanity," Mamdani said.

Meanwhile, in Washington, United Nations Ambassador Mike Waltz reaffirmed the Trump administration’s position that the United States would play no role in arresting Netanyahu, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump.

Waltz, appearing before a U.S. House panel, was asked about Mamdani’s comments by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-Pearl River). Waltz noted the United States is not a member of the 125-nation International Criminal Court and also cited the longtime immunity agreement for heads of state that comes with New York serving as home to the U.N. headquarters.

"There is head of state immunity, and under the U.N. headquarters agreement, heads of state are allowed to come and go to the U.N. General Assembly," Waltz said.

While countries that aren’t signatories to the ICC are not bound to enforce a warrant, those countries can choose to.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the minority leader, when asked Wednesday by a reporter if he supported Mamdani’s position that the federal government should enforce the ICC’s warrant, did not answer the question directly but noted his past criticism of Netanyahu.

"Bottom line is, I have disagreed with Benjamin Netanyahu time and time again," Schumer said before walking away.

Schumer, who has said he does not think Israel committed genocide, also called in a March 2024 Senate floor speech for Israel to hold new elections, describing Netanyahu and his "coalition with far-right extremists" as an "obstacle to peace."

"He has been too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza, which is pushing support for Israel worldwide to historic lows," Schumer said in his speech. "Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah."

Netanyahu had his defenders on Capitol Hill Wednesday, including Lawler, who at the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing with Waltz, called Mamdani’s initial push for an arrest "nonsense."

"He wants to arrest a duly elected prime minister of an ally based on the International Criminal Court, of which we are not party to," Lawler said. "It's truly remarkable." 

By Laura Figueroa Hernandez

laura.figueroa@newsday.com,matthew.chayes@newsday.com@Laura_Figueroa,

Laura Figueroa Hernandez is the White House correspondent and previously covered New York City politics and government. She joined Newsday in 2012 after covering state and local politics for The Miami Herald.