NYC Mayor Mamdani considers arresting Netanyahu during UNGA visit

NEW YORK – 18 July 2026: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said his administration is reviewing options to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits the city for the UN General Assembly in September.

Speaking on The Interview, a New York Times podcast, Mamdani said he believes Netanyahu “belongs in The Hague,” referring to the seat of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over war crimes and crimes against humanity during the deadly war in Gaza.

“He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court … And what you will find is that is an opinion that is held by many, purely because of what his actions have wrought over these last many years,” Mamdani said.

He noted that it remained unclear whether, as mayor, he has the legal authority to direct the New York Police Department to detain a visiting foreign leader.

He said his administration is in "an active conversation" with the city's Law Department about the issue..

“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,” the NYC mayor added.