Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after Mamdani called Netanyahu a “war criminal”. This comes as Mamdani’s administration considers the possibility of detaining the Israeli leader during an upcoming visit to the city, citing an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant.
Netanyahu’s office dismissed the ICC as lacking authority over Americans and Israelis, further describing it as a “kangaroo court”. They pointed out that the warrant was issued by a former ICC Prosecutor, Karim Khan, shortly before allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced against him. Netanyahu’s office accused Khan of trying to distract public attention from these allegations.
The Prime Minister’s office accused Mamdani of using similar tactics to divert attention from his performance in New York. They urged Mamdani to address issues within his own jurisdiction instead of aligning with Khan’s actions.
Israel has rejected the ICC warrant, stating that under Netanyahu’s leadership, efforts have been made to minimize civilian harm during operations against Hamas. They labeled Hamas a “genocidal terrorist organization” that uses civilians as shields and intentionally targets Israeli civilians.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed skepticism about Mamdani’s threats, describing it as “political theater”. Pompeo doubted that Mamdani could execute such an arrest, calling the mayor a “communist, antisemitic” figure seeking attention.
Some Democrats have also voiced opposition to Mamdani’s position, warning that it could encourage terrorist groups. Former NYC Mayor Eric Adams criticized Mamdani’s statements, highlighting the potential risk it poses to American diplomats and military personnel globally. He emphasized that leadership involves recognizing the impact of one’s words.
Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has distanced himself from those within his party adopting an anti-Israel stance. He labeled Mamdani a “clown,” suggesting the mayor focus on New York’s local issues rather than engaging in international disputes.
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