Baghdad: New York City Mayor Zahran Mamdani announced that his administration is deliberating the potential arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit New York for the United Nations General Assembly meetings. Mamdani discussed the possibility during an interview with Lolo Garcia Navarro on The New York Times’ “The Interview,” expressing his belief that Netanyahu should face justice at The Hague, where the UN’s International Court of Justice is located.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Mamdani labeled Netanyahu a war criminal, citing an indictment by the International Criminal Court. He emphasized that his viewpoint is shared by many due to Netanyahu’s actions over recent years. Mamdani admitted uncertainty about his legal authority to instruct the New York City Police Department, which he supervises, to detain a foreign leader like Netanyahu. He mentioned ongoing “active discussions” with the city’s legal department regarding the matter.

Mamdani clarified his stance, stating, “We will do everything that the law in New York City allows, but we will not make our own laws to achieve this.” The issue of Netanyahu’s arrest was part of Mamdani’s mayoral campaign last year, where he stated in an interview with The New York Times that he would order the city police to arrest Netanyahu, who was then seeking re-election in Israel. He voiced willingness to respect an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for Netanyahu’s involvement in the Gaza war, which Mamdani and a UN commission have described as “genocide.”

Netanyahu recently addressed Mamdani’s arrest threat during a radio appearance, expressing no concern and accusing the mayor of supporting Hamas.