Zokhran Mamdani, the Democratic Party"s leading candidate for mayor of New York City, has pledged to instruct the city police to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin if they visit New York while he is in office. In an interview with The New York Times, Mamdani labeled Netanyahu a “war criminal committing genocide in the Gaza Strip,” referencing an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2024.
Mamdani"s stance underscores his commitment to uphold international law, stating, “I want this city to uphold the principles of international law.” He also expressed readiness to arrest Putin, who faces an ICC warrant issued in 2023 for alleged war crimes related to the conflict in Ukraine.
While Mamdani"s statements have garnered attention, they raise significant legal and political questions. The United States is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, and does not recognize its authority. Any attempt by Mamdani to execute these arrests would likely provoke a confrontation with the federal government.
This declaration comes amid a heightened political climate in the U.S., reflecting ongoing tensions surrounding international conflicts and their implications on domestic politics. As previously reported, the landscape of political accountability continues to evolve, with figures like Mamdani advocating for bold actions that challenge existing norms.
