NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “a war criminal” and urged the United States government to enforce the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant against him, declaring that the Israeli leader is “not welcome in New York City.”
In a speech released by the Office of the Mayor of New York City, Mamdani accused Netanyahu of being “the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people,” saying he bears responsibility for the deaths of more than 73,000 Palestinians since Israel launched its military campaign in the Gaza Strip in October 2023. He said Netanyahu was responsible for the killing of tens of thousands of civilians, the maiming of thousands of children, many of whom have undergone amputations without anesthesia, the targeting of neonatal hospitals and maternity care centres, preventing newborns from receiving life-saving care, blocking food and humanitarian assistance from reaching Gaza, and the killing of hundreds of aid workers and journalists.
Referring to recent United Nations findings, Mamdani said Palestinian children continue to be deliberately targeted and killed by Israeli forces more than eight months after the ceasefire. “The list goes on and on,” he said, adding that American taxpayers continue to fund the bombs used in the war. He argued that the scale of destruction in Gaza has reached a level that “offends all of humanity” and said anyone “with their eyes, with their heart, with their conscience” should recognise the devastation caused by the conflict. He said Netanyahu belongs before a court of law and expressed his agreement with the ICC’s decision to seek his arrest, adding that the same principle should apply to anyone charged by the court.
Mamdani said his administration had reviewed every legal option available to determine whether New York City could execute the ICC’s arrest warrant if Netanyahu entered the city. However, he said the city lacks the independent legal authority to do so, noting that such authority rests with the federal government. He called on Washington to cooperate with the ICC and execute the warrant, while reiterating that “Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large.” He concluded by saying that although New York City cannot end the war by itself, it can decide whether “our silence will become another weapon” and pledged to use every legal tool available to defend the humanity and dignity of all people.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. According to the court, there are reasonable grounds to believe the two Israeli leaders bear criminal responsibility for acts including using starvation as a method of warfare against civilians and intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population. Israel has rejected the allegations, denied committing war crimes and does not recognise the ICC’s jurisdiction over the case.
The ICC does not have its own police force and relies on its member states to enforce its decisions. Under the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the court, its 125 member states are generally required to cooperate with the ICC, including by arresting individuals subject to ICC warrants if they enter their territory. Countries including South Africa, Ireland, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Chile and Japan are among those legally obligated to cooperate with the court. Several governments have indicated they would comply with their obligations under international law should Netanyahu travel to their countries, although the execution of an arrest warrant depends on each country’s domestic legal procedures. The United States, Israel, Russia, China, India and several other countries are not members of the ICC and are therefore not legally required to enforce its warrants.
Israel launched its military offensive in Gaza following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and around 250 others were taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities. Since then, Gaza’s Health Ministry says more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, with women and children making up a large proportion of the victims. Tens of thousands more have been injured, while thousands remain missing beneath the rubble. The United Nations has repeatedly warned of catastrophic humanitarian conditions in the territory, with widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, repeated attacks affecting hospitals and healthcare facilities, mass displacement and severe shortages of food, clean water, fuel and medicine. Humanitarian organisations have also reported that hundreds of aid workers and journalists have been killed during the conflict.
Although a ceasefire came into effect earlier this year, hostilities have continued. Palestinian health authorities say thousands more Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire began, while the United Nations has reported that civilians, including children, continue to be killed during ongoing Israeli military operations. UN agencies and humanitarian organisations have also warned that aid restrictions and continuing military activity have deepened Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, with millions of Palestinians still facing acute food insecurity and limited access to essential medical care. Israel maintains that its operations target Hamas fighters and military infrastructure and says it takes measures to reduce civilian casualties, while accusing Hamas of operating from within densely populated civilian areas.
