New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has put out a viral video address that has clarified his stance on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
After previously saying he would have the Israeli Prime Minister arrested if he visited the city, the mayor released a new video explaining that he still considers Netanyahu a “war criminal” who should face trial, but that New York City does not have the legal authority to detain him. His viral video also acted as a plea to the United States government to follow through with arresting the controversial political figure during his next visit to the country. Social media users had a strong reaction to his statements, with some praising his perspective, and others thinking he’s “overreaching.” Read more about the situation below.
@nycmayor Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal.
Zohran Mamdani Calls Benjamin Netanyahu A ‘War Criminal’ & Says Federal Government ‘Should’ Arrest Him In Viral Video
One of today’s most popular and trending political figures is undoubtedly the 34-year-old mayor, who is turning heads and making headlines with some of his latest statements. Yesterday, on July 22nd, Mayor Mamdani released a video address across social media platforms that was all about his stance on the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, who’s been considered an extremely controversial figure over the last three years. The mayor clarified that he continued to disagree wholeheartedly with Netanyahu’s recent actions in power.
“Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal,” he said in the video, calling the Israeli leader “the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people.”
The former assemblyman claimed his administration had spent time reviewing “every legal avenue available” to see if New York City would be able to carry out the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant for Netanyahu, which was issued in November 2024, as it was determined that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza following Hamas’ 2023 attack made the him guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity that has so far resulted in the death of over 73,000 Palestinans, as reported by PBS.
After working with the city’s legal department, he said they decided that the mayor and the New York Police Department do not have the power to act on the warrant by arresting him if he were ever to visit the famous city. Given this contradicted promises he made during his mayoral campaign to arrest the Prime Minister if he ever visited NYC, Mamdani called upon the United States federal government to recognize the ICC’s warrant and cooperate with it.
The mayor ended his video by stating Netanyahu “must be brought to justice” and that he is “not welcome in New York City.”
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Social Media Users Share Divided Opinions On Zohran Mamdani's Video
The NYC politician's video quickly gained traction across social media, garnering millions of views and likes on various platforms as users weighed in on his address on why New York City cannot arrest Netanyahu despite his stance and campaign claims.
His statements ended up sparking divided reactions from users, with some praising the mayor for standing firm in his position and others criticizing both his comments and how he's handling the issue, either siding with Netanyahu or believing he's overstepping his authority.
"This stems from Mamdani's stated desire to enforce an ICC warrant, despite the U.S. not recognizing the ICC's authority here," wrote an X user. "Bold stance or overreach?"
"[An] overreach that would set an undesirable precedent," responded another.
"It's an irresponsible and dangerous publicity stunt by Mamdani," commented a user. "It demonstrates his lack of regard for the nation."
"The world watches this bold move or diplomatic disaster," added another.
Aside from the critics, there were also many users who praised the mayor's boldness and firm statements against the Israeli Prime Minister.
"Mamdani is the only politician with a spine," commented a TikTok user under his video.
"God, I wish he could be president," wrote a user, as another said his video signified "the first time in US history that a mayor has become the nation's leader."
"So rare to see someone in power with integrity," added a user.
