Prime Minister’s Office says New York mayor should focus on governing the city rather than pursuing the Israeli leader
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office sharply rebuked New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday after he renewed his threat to seek the arrest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a future visit to the city.
“The ICC is a kangaroo court that has no jurisdiction over Americans or Israelis,” the Prime Minister’s Office said, referring to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
The statement came after Mamdani told a New York Times podcast that he believes Netanyahu “belongs in The Hague,” calling the Israeli leader a war criminal and saying city attorneys are examining what authority New York may possess to act against him.
Mamdani acknowledged that his powers may be limited, saying his administration would act only within the boundaries of existing law. The United States and Israel are not parties to the Rome Statute that established the ICC, although the court maintains that it can exercise jurisdiction based on Palestinian territorial claims.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024 over allegations connected to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Israel has rejected the accusations and continues to challenge the court’s jurisdiction and the legal validity of the warrant.
Netanyahu’s office said Israel had taken extraordinary wartime measures to reduce civilian casualties while fighting Hamas, which deliberately operates among Palestinian civilians and carried out the October 7, 2023, massacre in southern Israel.
“Instead of backing Khan’s criminal behavior, Mr. Mamdani should focus on fixing the damage his policies have caused New York,” the statement said, referring to former ICC prosecutor Karim Khan.
Netanyahu separately accused Mamdani of condemning Israel while failing to confront Hamas’ declared goal of destroying the Jewish state.
Israeli diplomats also dismissed the mayor’s threat, arguing that a municipal official has no authority to execute an international warrant against a visiting foreign leader attending the United Nations General Assembly.
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said Netanyahu’s planned visit would proceed and that the prime minister would use the international platform to defend Israel’s right to protect its citizens.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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