Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed calls for his arrest during a planned visit to New York, accusing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of promoting division. The dispute centres on an International Criminal Court warrant issued over alleged war crimes during Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
INR Report: Based on reporting by RT. Read the original report HERE.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticised New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after the mayor publicly called for US authorities to arrest him should he attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this year. Netanyahu accused Mamdani of "fomenting hate" and rejected allegations surrounding the International Criminal Court's case against him.
The dispute follows the International Criminal Court's decision in November 2024 to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The court alleges responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Israel's military campaign in Gaza, including the alleged use of starvation as a method of warfare and other inhumane acts. Israel has consistently rejected the allegations and disputes the ICC's jurisdiction.
Mamdani, who has repeatedly described Israel's military campaign in Gaza as genocide and referred to Netanyahu as a war criminal, recently urged the US federal government to execute the ICC warrant if the Israeli leader visits New York. Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu dismissed the ICC proceedings as "bogus" and argued the mayor was attempting to divide New Yorkers rather than represent all communities equally.
The New York mayor has since acknowledged that the city itself has no legal authority to enforce an ICC warrant and has instead called on the US federal government to take action. However, neither the United States nor Israel is a member of the International Criminal Court, and US federal law generally prevents state and local authorities from cooperating with ICC requests.
The United States has continued to oppose the court's actions against Israeli officials. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has recently called for efforts to weaken the ICC by encouraging countries to withdraw their support for the institution. President Donald Trump has also publicly stated that Netanyahu "will not be arrested" while visiting the United States. According to the report, Netanyahu is expected to meet President Trump during his visit to Washington before travelling to New York.
The legal and political dispute continues against the backdrop of the Gaza conflict, which began following the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023. Israel responded with a large-scale military campaign that has drawn significant international criticism. Gaza health authorities say more than 73,000 people, including over 21,000 children, have been killed during the conflict. Israel disputes accusations that its military campaign constitutes genocide and maintains it is acting in self-defence against Hamas.
Does This Affect New Zealand?
New Zealand is a State Party to the Rome Statute and recognises the International Criminal Court. While there is no suggestion Netanyahu intends to visit New Zealand, the case continues to generate debate internationally over the role of the ICC, the obligations of member states, and the interaction between international criminal law and national sovereignty.
The controversy also reflects broader divisions among Western democracies over the Gaza conflict, humanitarian law, and the balance between supporting Israel's security and ensuring accountability under international law.
Independent Context
The ICC's arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant remain legally contested. Israel rejects both the allegations and the court's jurisdiction, while the United States—which is not an ICC member—has also opposed enforcement of the warrants. Allegations of genocide and war crimes relating to the Gaza conflict remain the subject of ongoing international legal proceedings and should not be regarded as established findings of fact unless determined by a competent court.
Source: Based on reporting by RT. Original article: "Mamdani 'fomenting hate' – Netanyahu."