NYC Mayor Calls Netanyahu 'Architect of Genocide,' Urges ICC Warrant Enforcement

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, labeling him the "architect of a terrible genocide." Mamdani expressed his support for the United States joining the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to enforce arrest warrants, including one against Netanyahu.

In an interview on the "This Past Weekend" podcast hosted by comedian Theo Von, Mamdani addressed the possibility of Netanyahu's arrest during a recent visit to the city. He clarified that the legal authority for such an action rests with the federal government, not the city. However, he reiterated his strong stance, stating, "If it were up to me, the U.S. government would join the ICC and respect every arrest warrant it issued." He argued that the U.S. government should enforce all warrants, particularly concerning allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes against the Prime Minister.

Mamdani justified his support for the ICC as a matter of principle, emphasizing the importance of the rule of law. He criticized the lack of accountability for violations of international law established after World War II, arguing it undermines the concepts of responsibility and multilateralism.

Responding to remarks Netanyahu made about him at the UN, Mamdani called them "strange." He rejected the notion that Netanyahu's comments were a personal attack, stating, "This is not about me and him. This is about the fact that he is the architect of genocide." He added sarcastically, "If I were the architect of genocide, I would probably talk about anything else but that."

Mamdani also differentiated between criticism of Israeli policy and antisemitism, asserting that "criticism of Israel and its policy actions is not, in itself, antisemitic." As the mayor of the city with the largest Jewish population in the U.S., he stressed that "no Jew in New York is responsible for the actions of the State of Israel." He directed responsibility towards the Israeli government and American taxpayers who, he claimed, fund continued arms shipments to Israel.