The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations has criticized Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic mayor of New York City, for allegedly engaging in ‘political theater’. This follows Mamdani’s statements about arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his expected visit to the city later this year.
Arrest Proposal
Mamdani is exploring the possibility of arresting Netanyahu when he visits New York for the UN General Assembly in September. In a New York Times interview, Mamdani mentioned being in “active conversation” with the city’s legal offices about his authority to take such action. He emphasized that his actions would be within legal boundaries: “Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do.”
Reaction from U.S. Officials
Mike Waltz, the top U.S. envoy to the UN, dismissed Mamdani’s remarks as “pure political theater” on X. He argued the mayor does not have the legal authority to arrest Netanyahu, citing both international and U.S. law. Newsweek has reached out to the offices of the New York City Mayor and the Israeli Prime Minister for comment.
Legal Challenges
During the UN General Assembly, global leaders, including Netanyahu, are expected to gather in New York City. Waltz noted several reasons why any arrest attempt would likely fail. Notably, the U.S. has not ratified the Rome Statute, the treaty underpinning the International Criminal Court (ICC), and thus is not obliged to support its enforcement.
Additionally, Waltz referenced head-of-state immunity and the UN Headquarters Agreement, which offers legal protections to foreign diplomats and officials during UN meetings.
Reasons Behind Mamdani’s Proposal
Mamdani’s intention to arrest Netanyahu is linked to a warrant issued by the ICC in November 2024. The ICC, based in The Hague, Netherlands, prosecutes individuals accused of severe offenses. This warrant followed an investigation into the Israeli military actions in Gaza, with judges suggesting “reasonable grounds to believe” in Netanyahu’s responsibility for alleged crimes.
These alleged crimes include using starvation as a warfare method and targeting civilians. During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani pledged to honor the ICC warrant if elected and arrest Netanyahu in New York.
Netanyahu expressed his intent to visit New York, regardless of Mamdani’s statements, as mentioned in a December interview at The New York Times’ Dealbook Summit. Mamdani reiterated his view that “Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague” during a recent interview, labeling him a war criminal based on ICC charges. This opinion, according to Mamdani, aligns with widespread views considering Netanyahu’s past actions.