NYC Officials Consider Arresting Netanyahu During UN Visit

WHO:

Al Jazeera - Mamdani is a democratic socialist who has emerged as an outspoken supporter of the Palestinian cause.

Al Jazeera - Mamdani was the target of frequent Islamophobic vitriol and insults during his campaign for mayor.

NBC New York - Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated, “I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague. He's a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court.”

NY Post - Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, said that “if anyone should be arrested, it is New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.”

AP - A national poll of more than 1,000 Jewish Americans showed 44% view Mamdani favorably compared to 39% who have an unfavorable opinion.

AP - Netanyahu was viewed favorably by 32% of American Jews, with 59% viewing him negatively.

Al Jazeera - Mamdani stated, “He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court,” during an interview on The New York Times’ “The Interview” podcast.

Al Jazeera - Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated in an interview with The New York Times that he believes Netanyahu is a war criminal charged by the International Criminal Court.

Fox News - New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is exploring the possibility of arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Al Jazeera - Netanyahu is the subject of an ICC arrest warrant for possible crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Al Jazeera - Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, stated that Netanyahu will attend the UN General Assembly.

WHAT:

Al Jazeera - Mamdani stated, “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.”

Al Jazeera - A poll in May found that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters oppose US aid to Israel, up from 45 percent three years ago.

Al Jazeera - Nearly half of those surveyed said that their party was too supportive of Israel.

NBC New York - Mamdani is exploring the legality of arresting Netanyahu during his visit for the United Nations General Assembly in September.

NY Post - A national poll of more than 1,000 Jewish Americans showed 44% view Mamdani favorably compared to 39% who have an unfavorable opinion.

NY Post - Netanyahu was viewed favorably by 32% of American Jews, with 59% viewing him negatively.

AP - Nearly half of the Democratic members of the US House of Representatives voted to end US aid to Israel earlier this week.

Al Jazeera - Mamdani revealed that he is currently consulting with the city’s Law Department to determine his options regarding the potential arrest of Netanyahu.

Fox News - Netanyahu dismissed concerns about Mamdani’s calls for his arrest, stating that Mamdani “secretly hates America.”

Al Jazeera - Mamdani reiterated his campaign pledge to arrest Netanyahu, stating, “I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in the Hague.”

Al Jazeera - Mamdani described the opinion that Netanyahu is a war criminal as one held by many due to his actions over the years.

CNN - The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders in 2024, accusing them of war crimes during and after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel.

Fox News - Mamdani stated, “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.”

Fox News - Mamdani's administration is considering the legal feasibility of arresting Netanyahu during his visit for the United Nations General Assembly.

Al Jazeera - Mamdani reiterated his belief that Netanyahu should be brought to justice, stating, “I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in the Hague.”

Al Jazeera - Nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters oppose US aid to Israel, a significant increase from 45 percent three years ago.

Al Jazeera - Nearly half of the Democratic members of the US House of Representatives voted to end US aid to Israel recently.

WHERE:

Fox News - The potential arrest would take place in New York City during the United Nations General Assembly.

Al Jazeera - The UN General Assembly is scheduled to occur in New York.

WHEN:

Al Jazeera - The United Nations General Assembly is scheduled for September.

WHY:

Al Jazeera - Mamdani pointed to recent local primary victories by his endorsed candidates as evidence that voters were highly motivated by the crisis in Gaza.

AP - Mamdani's election to mayor and his continued calls for accountability regarding Netanyahu point to a dramatic swing among Democratic voters away from Israel.

The Independent - Mamdani’s stance reflects a shift from his previous campaign promise to directly order the New York Police Department to detain Netanyahu.

CNN - Mamdani has repeatedly criticized Israel’s war in Gaza as a “genocide.”

Al Jazeera - Mamdani's motivation stems from his view that Netanyahu is a war criminal charged by the International Criminal Court due to actions in Gaza.

Al Jazeera - Mamdani's campaign pledge to arrest Netanyahu reflects a shift among Democratic voters away from support for Israel.

HOW:

NBC New York - Several former prosecutors stated that if Mayor Mamdani or any New York police official tried to arrest Netanyahu based on an ICC warrant, it would be a violation of U.S. federal law.

AP - NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch is a strong supporter of the Jewish state and represented the city at the Israel Day Parade after Mamdani snubbed the event.

NY Post - Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, stated that “if anyone should be arrested, it is New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.”

Al Jazeera - Mamdani is currently consulting with the city’s Law Department to determine his options regarding the potential arrest of Netanyahu.

CNN - US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz called the mayor’s comments “pure political theater” and noted the US is not a member of the ICC.

Al Jazeera - Mamdani is in “active conversation” with the city’s law department to determine the legal authority for an arrest.

(UPDATED July 19, 2026 14:20 UTC)

Mamdani, a democratic socialist and vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, faced significant Islamophobic backlash during his campaign for mayor. He emphasized that while he would operate within the law in New York City, he would not create new laws to pursue his agenda, as a recent poll revealed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters now oppose U.S. aid to Israel. Additionally, several former prosecutors warned that any attempt by Mayor Mamdani or New York police officials to arrest Netanyahu based on an ICC warrant could violate U.S. federal law.

(UPDATED July 19, 2026 13:17 UTC)

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has declared that he believes Prime Minister Netanyahu is a war criminal who should be arrested and taken to The Hague, as he explores the legality of making such an arrest during Netanyahu's upcoming visit for the United Nations General Assembly in September. In response, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, argued that it is actually Mayor Mamdani who should face arrest, highlighting the tension surrounding this issue. Several former prosecutors have noted that any attempt by Mamdani or New York police to arrest Netanyahu based on an International Criminal Court warrant would violate U.S. federal law.

(UPDATED July 19, 2026 10:22 UTC)

A recent national poll of over 1,000 Jewish Americans reveals that 44% view Mamdani favorably, while only 39% hold an unfavorable opinion, in stark contrast to Netanyahu, who is seen positively by just 32% of American Jews. This shift in sentiment is further highlighted by nearly half of the Democratic members of the US House of Representatives voting to end US aid to Israel earlier this week, reflecting a growing discontent among Democratic voters towards the Israeli government. In a notable response, NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, a strong supporter of Israel, represented the city at the Israel Day Parade after Mamdani chose to skip the event.

(UPDATED July 19, 2026 06:46 UTC)

In a recent interview on The New York Times’ “The Interview” podcast, Zohran Mamdani declared that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is a war criminal charged by the International Criminal Court and is currently consulting with the city’s Law Department about the possibility of his arrest. Netanyahu has dismissed these concerns, accusing Mamdani of secretly hating America, while Mamdani's current position marks a departure from his earlier campaign promise to instruct the New York Police Department to detain Netanyahu directly. Meanwhile, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, countered by suggesting that if anyone deserves arrest, it would be Mayor Mamdani himself.

(UPDATED July 19, 2026 05:49 UTC)

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has expressed his belief that Prime Minister Netanyahu is a war criminal charged by the International Criminal Court, a sentiment he shared during an interview with The New York Times. He reiterated his campaign pledge to arrest Netanyahu, stating, “I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in the Hague,” and noted that many share this view due to Netanyahu's actions over the years. Currently, Mamdani is consulting with the city’s Law Department to explore his options regarding the potential arrest of Netanyahu.

(UPDATED July 19, 2026 02:48 UTC)

The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and other leaders, accusing them of war crimes related to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. In response, New York City Mayor Mamdani emphasized that he will act within the law but will not create new laws to address the situation, while he has been vocal in labeling Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide. US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz dismissed Mamdani's remarks as "pure political theater," reminding everyone that the US is not a member of the ICC.

(UPDATED July 19, 2026 01:21 UTC)

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is actively exploring the possibility of arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his upcoming visit for the United Nations General Assembly in September. This consideration comes as Netanyahu faces an ICC arrest warrant for possible crimes against humanity in Gaza, and Mamdani has expressed his belief that Netanyahu should be brought to justice, stating, “I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in the Hague.” Additionally, recent polling shows a significant shift among Democratic voters, with nearly three-quarters now opposing U.S. aid to Israel, prompting nearly half of Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives to vote to end that aid.