New York City Mayor Joran Mamdani is exploring the legal possibility of arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Mamdani stated, "I am discussing the potential for legal action against Prime Minister Netanyahu with the New York City Law Department."
Mamdani cited the International Criminal Court's (ICC) issuance of an arrest warrant for Netanyahu as a basis for his considerations. He emphasized, "We will act within the limits of New York City law, but I will not create a separate law for this purpose."
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024, related to allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity stemming from the conflict in Gaza. However, the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute that established the ICC and does not recognize its jurisdiction, leaving the feasibility of an actual arrest uncertain.
Mamdani had previously expressed a willingness to arrest Netanyahu during his campaign for mayor last year. In a recent interview with U.S. media, Netanyahu dismissed these claims and criticized Mayor Mamdani.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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