New York — Following a surprisingly cordial meeting with US President Donald Trump, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has fiercely reiterated his condemnation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, labelling him an “architect of genocide” and demanding his arrest during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.
Speaking to CNN, Mamdani did not mince words regarding the ongoing Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip. “When it comes to Benjamin Netanyahu, I have described him as I believe him to be — a war criminal and an architect of a horrific genocide of the Palestinian people,” Mamdani stated. He confirmed that the issue of accountability for Zionist war crimes was directly raised during his meeting with Trump at Gracie Mansion.
For months, the NYC mayor had pledged to arrest the Israeli premier if he set foot in the city, despite lacking the legal jurisdiction to do so. While he recently acknowledged the practical limitations of preventing Netanyahu’s arrival—noting he will not personally join planned street demonstrations against the premier’s presence—Mamdani maintained his firm moral and political stance, invoking the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Pointing to the ICC’s active arrest warrant for Netanyahu over war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the genocidal war on Gaza, Mamdani stressed that the warrant must be respected.
“I do believe that that is something that should be honoured, because what we want to see, and we’ve been talking about this today, is a faith in our politics, a faith in accountability,” he told reporters. “If the International Criminal Court deems someone worthy of an arrest because of a violation of those laws, then who are we to say that anyone should be above that?”
Netanyahu is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Thursday, a platform he intends to use to justify the continued occupation and mass slaughter in Palestine.
Domestic pragmatism amid ideological divides
During the meeting at the mayor’s residence, Trump and Mamdani largely set aside their sharp political differences to focus on domestic affairs, including immigration enforcement and a multibillion-dollar housing initiative.
Trump offered praise for the mayor, stating at a press conference, “Hopefully, you’re going to be a great [mayor]. I’ll be able to say you’re going to be a great one, and you’re off to a start.”
Mamdani, while acknowledging their divergent worldviews, emphasised a pragmatic approach to governance. “We’ve both spoken about very different approaches, very different beliefs, and I will continue to have conversations with the president, and frankly with anyone who can deliver relief to the people of this city,” he said.
However, on the issue of Palestine and the Zionist regime’s atrocities, Mamdani remains unwavering. As Netanyahu prepares to take the UN stage, the mayor continues to amplify the global call for justice, arguing that international law must apply equally and that no leader should be shielded from accountability for mass murder.
Reference: Al-Mayadeen