New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has reaffirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be brought before the International Criminal Court (ICC) over war crimes in Gaza, saying his administration is reviewing whether any legal mechanisms exist to act on the court's arrest warrant if Netanyahu visits New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Speaking on The New York Times' The Interview podcast, Mamdani said Netanyahu "belongs in The Hague," where the ICC is headquartered and where arrest warrants were issued in November 2024 for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Israel's military assault on Gaza.

"He is a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court," Mamdani said, adding that New York City's Law Department is examining the legal options available to the city.

"Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that's what we will do," he said. "But we won't be writing our own laws to that end."

ICC seeks accountability for Gaza atrocities

The ICC's arrest warrants accuse Netanyahu and Gallant of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare, murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts committed against the Palestinian population in Gaza.

The warrants marked the first time the court sought the arrest of a sitting Israeli prime minister and were widely viewed by human rights advocates as a significant step toward international accountability after months of devastating military operations that have left Gaza in ruins.

Since Israel launched its genocidal offensive since October 7, 2023, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health authorities, while entire neighborhoods, hospitals, schools, universities and civilian infrastructure have been destroyed. The United Nations has repeatedly warned that Gaza faces catastrophic humanitarian conditions, with widespread hunger, displacement and the collapse of essential services.

Numerous international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, as well as UN experts, have accused Israel of committing grave violations of international humanitarian law. Israel rejects the allegations and denies committing genocide or war crimes.

Legal questions remain

Although Mamdani reiterated his support for enforcing the ICC warrant, he acknowledged that the legal authority of New York City to detain a visiting foreign leader remains uncertain.

The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute establishing the ICC and does not recognize the court's jurisdiction over U.S. nationals or Israeli officials. Legal experts have also noted that foreign leaders visiting the United States for United Nations meetings generally enjoy legal protections under international agreements and U.S. federal law.

Nevertheless, Mamdani said the existence of the ICC warrant cannot simply be ignored.

"We're not talking about a personal assessment of Benjamin Netanyahu," he said. "We're talking about the International Criminal Court and the fact that they have a warrant out for this prime minister's arrest."

Washington continues to shield Israel

The prospect of any action against Netanyahu has been dismissed by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which has continued Washington's longstanding policy of rejecting the ICC's authority.

Trump has said Netanyahu would not be arrested while visiting the United States, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio has accused the ICC of targeting Israel and pledged to oppose the court's actions.

The Trump administration has also maintained sanctions against ICC officials involved in investigations concerning Israel, a move widely criticized by international legal experts and human rights organizations as an attempt to undermine international justice.

Israeli officials reject criticism

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has brushed aside Mamdani's remarks, saying he is unconcerned by the mayor's comments.

Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said Netanyahu would attend the UN General Assembly and present what he described as Israel's position to world leaders.

Netanyahu has also accused Mamdani of supporting Hamas, an allegation the mayor has repeatedly denied. Mamdani has consistently condemned the October 7 attacks on Israeli civilians while maintaining that criticism of Israeli government policies and support for Palestinian rights should not be equated with antisemitism.

The mayor has also pointed to increased funding for New York City's Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, saying his administration remains committed to protecting Jewish, Muslim and all other communities from discrimination and violence.

Growing calls for accountability

Mamdani's remarks reflect a broader shift in political discourse within the United States, where growing numbers of lawmakers and voters have expressed concern over Washington's continued military support for Israel amid the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

In Congress, dozens of Democratic lawmakers have recently backed proposals seeking to suspend or condition billions of dollars in military assistance to Israel, citing concerns over civilian casualties and alleged violations of international law.

Speaking about U.S. policy, Mamdani argued that Washington's unwavering support for Israel despite the devastation in Gaza has eroded its moral standing.

"It is hard to find a more bankrupt policy approach than what our country has done to Gaza and to Palestine," he said.

World leaders are expected to gather in New York in September for the annual United Nations General Assembly, where Netanyahu is widely expected to attend despite the ICC arrest warrant that continues to fuel international demands for accountability over Israel's military campaign in Gaza. (ILKHA)