Mamdani says Netanyahu 'not welcome in New York City'

(NewsNation) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a video saying Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “not welcome in New York City” and urged the U.S. to enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.

The YouTube channel for the NYC Mayor’s Office released a video Tuesday evening titled, “Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal.” In it, Mamdani sits at a desk and delivers a prepared statement directly to the camera.

“Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal, the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people,” Mamdani begins, restating comments he made in an interview with Lulu Garcia-Navarro on a Saturday episode of The New York Times’ “The Interview” podcast before continuing with additional accusations.

“He is responsible for the killing of more than 73,000 people, for the maiming of tens of thousands of children, as those who survive undergo amputation without anesthesia,” Mamdani said. He also accused Netanyahu of targeting neonatal hospitals and maternity care centers.

Mamdani went on to say Israel’s prime minister blocked food and humanitarian aid and was responsible for the shooting of aid workers and journalists.

“Just last month, the U.N. confirmed that Palestinian children continue to be deliberately targeted and killed by Israeli armed forces, more than eight months after the so-called ceasefire,” Mamdani said. “All as we, as Americans, pay for the bombs that do the killing. There is a reason the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest.”

The ICC issued the warrant in 2024 over alleged war crimes, including “starvation as a method of warfare” and “other inhumane acts.” Netanyahu’s office called it “a kangaroo court that has no jurisdiction over Americans or Israelis.”

Mamdani then addressed whether his administration could arrest Netanyahu during his anticipated visit to New York City in the fall.

“It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant. The federal government, however, does, and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant,” Mamdani said. “And I want to be equally clear: Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large.”

Mamdani did not elaborate on what would happen if Netanyahu did, in fact, visit the city, saying only that “we can decide whether our silence will become another weapon, and we can examine every tool we have to defend the humanity and dignity of all people.”

President Donald Trump said Netanyahu would not be arrested in the United States.

“He is fighting against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which recently killed 52,000 innocent protesters and has spent the last 47 years killing American soldiers and others,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Speaking to NewsNation, Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, said the accusations were a distraction meant to shift blame to Israel for the city’s problems.

“We have zero concerns,” Danon said about the upcoming visit. “We know the facts. We know the legal situation where we are standing. And we know it’s a stunt.”

Danon also suggested Mamdani could be arrested for supporting terrorism.

“While the U.S. soldiers are fighting the regime in Tehran, the mayor wanted to have a dialogue with this regime. And a few weeks ago, he actually called a terrorist that we eliminated a journalist, an innocent journalist. The mayor is instigating, is promoting antisemitism.”

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