Zohran Mamdani again calls Netanyahu a “war criminal,” but acknowledges that New York cannot enforce the ICC warrant

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani maintained his criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he again called a “war criminal,” in an interview with journalist Christiane Amanpour on CNN. The remarks were made as Netanyahu was in New York for the UN General Assembly.

Mamdani acknowledged that the city administration lacks the legal authority to enforce the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the Israeli prime minister. During the election campaign, the mayor had promised to order Netanyahu’s arrest if he came to the city. Subsequently, a legal analysis by his administration found that such action falls outside municipal authority. CNN reported that Mamdani asked US federal authorities to enforce the warrant.

Asked whether he regretted the remarks, Mamdani rejected the idea that they were a mistake. He also described Netanyahu as the “architect of a terrible genocide” against Palestinians, statements that represent the mayor’s position. The ICC warrant, issued in 2024, accuses Netanyahu of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the war in Gaza. Netanyahu and the Israeli government reject the allegations.

Mamdani argued that the warrant must be respected, but the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, and the Trump administration has opposed the ICC’s action.