New York Democrat hopes Mamdani won't be 'arresting anyone' after recent Netanyahu comments

Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., told CNN Monday that he hopes New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani does not make any effort to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu despite his past comments.

Meeks was asked by "The Situation Room" host Wolf Blitzer about reports that Mamdani is looking into the possibility of arresting Netanyahu if he visits New York City for the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Stepping away from Mamdani, Meeks emphasized that "all leaders" are welcome to speak at the United Nations and encouraged the New York City mayor to not try to disrupt the UN's purpose.

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"Look, the United Nations is for all leaders to come to the United States, for them to have a chance to talk to the collective body, whether you agree with them or not," Meeks said. "I have had, on other sides with other folks, to say that they should have had the right to come to the UN, and they did, to speak to the United Nations in that regard. And people have the right to speak out loudly against what they may say and represent. That’s fine. But I think the mayor has also walked that back some."

He continued, "I saw a quote where he said that he does not intend to violate federal law, existing law, and looking for other laws, as President [Donald] Trump sometimes does, you know, tries to go around the law, and that he understands that the UN’s functions need to continue to move forward, and let the UN takes care of its business. And so, I think that the mayor should make sure that he’s not arresting anyone at this point."

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Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani's office for comment.

In remarks first reported by The New York Times, Mamdani called Netanyahu a "war criminal" who "belongs in The Hague" and said his administration is in an "active conversation" with the city's Law Department over what legal authority New York City possesses should the Israeli prime minister travel to the Big Apple.

"Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do," Mamdani said, adding that his administration would not write new laws for that purpose.

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The International Criminal Court (ICC) originally issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024, over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity tied to Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

Israel has rejected the allegations and disputes the court's jurisdiction. In addition, the U.S. is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, meaning it does not have the same arrest-and-surrender obligation that applies to ICC member states.