Zohran Mamdani Vows to Arrest Netanyahu Upon Arrival in New York, Sends Message to City’s Jewish Community

As New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani prepares to take the reins of the largest city in the United States, the current outgoing Mayor Eric Adams met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and invited him to attend Mamdani's inauguration ceremony, which drew an angry response from the new Mayor-elect.

Pledge to Enforce International Law

In an interview with ABC News, Zohran Mamdani reiterated his pledge to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon his arrival in the city. He stated he would instruct the city police to execute the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant against Netanyahu if he attends the United Nations General Assembly meetings next year, stressing that the Israeli war in Gaza amounts to an act of genocide.

He added: "Being a city that respects international law means we seek to implement it, and this includes executing the orders of the International Criminal Court, even against Benjamin Netanyahu."

Criticism of Outgoing Mayor's Visit to Israel

Mamdani went on to criticize Eric Adams’ visit to Israel, saying: "New Yorkers are about to lose their homes due to the rising cost of living in the city they call home, and his actions have nothing to do with the affordability crisis. What they show, in fact, is why New Yorkers are yearning for a new administration—one that focuses on the city's needs and seeks to address working-class New Yorkers about what those needs are, instead of war criminals."

Mamdani, who won the City Council election overwhelmingly but lost the Jewish vote by a two-to-one margin due to his view on the Israeli war in Gaza—which he described as genocide and threatened to arrest Netanyahu if he set foot in New York—a threat he repeated in yesterday's statements.

In Israel, Adams stated at a press conference that New York's Jewish community should worry about the safety of their children and told Israel's president that the city is divided, saying, "49% of New Yorkers have affirmed their rejection of the anti-Israel philosophy."

However, during his interview with ABC, Mamdani affirmed his commitment to the city's Jewish community, stating: "I will take my responsibility not only to protect New York Jews but also to celebrate and appreciate them in the city."