New York City Mayor, Zohran Mamdani has reiterated his position on the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The International Criminal Court, in November 2024, issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged crimes committed in Gaza and across Palestine from October 2023 through May 2024.
Appearing on Theo Von’s podcast, Mamdani replied in the affirmative when asked whether he would have wanted the United States to detain Netanyahu during his visit for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
“If I had my say, the U.S. government would have joined the ICC, honored every single warrant that they’ve issued,” the mayor stated during the interview, which aired on October 1.
Mamdani described Netanyahu as “the architect of a horrific genocide,” noting that just last week, Israeli forces killed an 11-year-old Palestinian boy in Gaza in an area considered a safe zone.
He insisted that criticism of Israel, its policies and military operations, which have claimed thousands of lives, does not translate to antisemitism, an opinion shared by former Vice Chancellor of Germany Robert Habeck.
The Democrat called Netanyahu’s attack on him during his UNGA speech “an attempt to distract from responsibility” by naming as many people as possible and turning the matter into a back-and-forth.
Mamdani, however, defended his political ideology, saying his idea of socialism is about people having whatever they need to live a dignified life, while the government takes on the responsibility of making it happen.
“Dignity is about the things that allow you to take a breath—housing, child care, public transit,” the mayor said. “No one should be priced out of these things. These are non-negotiables; you need these to live.”
Referencing his administration’s move to build five city-run stores where residents can buy groceries at lower prices, Mamdani asked, “What’s the point of government if not delivering for people who are being priced out of the essentials?”