Israel's U.N. ambassador Danny Danon said New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani — not Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — should be arrested ahead of Netanyahu's visit to the U.N., criticizing the mayor's calls for Netanyahu's detention on the basis of an ICC warrant. Mamdani said city lawyers determined New York lacks independent legal authority to carry out the ICC warrant. Danon also pointed to a canceled July meeting between a Mamdani aide and Iran's U.N. envoy and urged calm as thousands arrive for U.N. high-level week. Mamdani denied encouraging protests and said he is coordinating security preparations with the NYPD.
Israel's U.N. Envoy Urges Arrest Of NYC Mayor Mamdani — Not Netanyahu — Ahead Of U.N. Visit
Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon (AP)
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said Thursday that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani — not Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — should be arrested ahead of Netanyahu's visit to the U.N. General Assembly next week.
Mamdani first called for Netanyahu's arrest during his mayoral campaign, citing an International Criminal Court warrant issued in November 2024 that accuses the Israeli leader of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. At the time, Mamdani pledged he would instruct New York City police to arrest Netanyahu, even though the United States is not a party to the ICC.
In July, Mamdani said his administration's legal office was examining whether the city had independent authority to act on the ICC warrant. He later posted a video on X saying city officials had concluded they did not have that "independent legal authority" to carry out such an arrest.
Danon Criticizes Mamdani's Rhetoric
Speaking at a news conference in New York, Danon criticized Mamdani's public remarks about Israel and labeled the mayor’s earlier claim that he could arrest the prime minister as "ridiculous." Danon suggested that, if anyone should be detained, it ought to be Mamdani.
"If someone should be arrested, it's Mayor Mamdani for inciting, for actually collaborating with the enemy of the United States," Danon told reporters. "He sends these officials to meet with the Iranian ambassador here at the U.N."
Danon was referring to an attempted July meeting between Mamdani's international affairs commissioner and Iran's permanent representative to the U.N., which was canceled after the U.S. State Department intervened amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.
"I hope that he realizes he has a responsibility," Danon added, urging Mamdani to focus on city governance and to avoid rhetoric that could inflame tensions as "thousands of people" arrive for the U.N. high-level week.
Mamdani Responds
Mamdani has denied encouraging protests outside U.N. headquarters, telling the Washington Examiner, "To New Yorkers, I have never encouraged them to protest. What I have always told them is that they have the right to do so in this city." He emphasized New York's commitment to the First Amendment and said his conversations with the NYPD have been focused on standard security preparations.
Since taking office in January, Mamdani has frequently criticized Israel, drawing accusations from opponents that his rhetoric has contributed to antisemitic sentiment. The New York Police Department recorded 205 confirmed anti-Jewish hate crimes from January through July, up 8.5% from 189 during the same period the previous year.
Netanyahu is scheduled to address the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 24, two days after President Donald Trump's planned speech. Mamdani said he is arranging meetings with visiting foreign dignitaries while they are in New York but declined to confirm whether he will meet with the president.
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