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Ro Khanna supports call to enforce ICC warrant against Netanyahu

ByJustpaste.in

US Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna has backed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s call for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be arrested if he enters US jurisdiction under an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. Khanna said the United States should cooperate with the international court and uphold international law regardless of who is involved.

Speaking during an interview on Capitol Hill, the California lawmaker said the US president should enforce ICC arrest warrants for any individual wanted by the court, including both Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin if they were to enter American jurisdiction. He argued that respecting international law is essential to protecting human rights and maintaining a rules based international order. According to Khanna, US authorities should act on such warrants rather than ignoring them.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024, accusing him of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity connected to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza following the Hamas attack in October 2023. Israel has strongly rejected the accusations and criticized the court’s decision, maintaining that its military actions were carried out in self defense.

Khanna’s remarks come after his recent visit to the occupied West Bank, where he said he was briefly detained by Israeli settlers and members of the Israeli military while visiting a Palestinian village. The congressman suggested the incident had strengthened his views on the importance of accountability and respect for international law. Khanna, who is considered a possible Democratic presidential candidate for the 2028 election, also joked that detaining potential future US presidents was unlikely to improve relations with Washington.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has also been outspoken on the issue. He recently said he had explored whether city authorities could arrest Netanyahu if the Israeli leader visits New York for the United Nations General Assembly later this year. Mamdani later acknowledged that a city mayor does not have the legal authority to carry out such an arrest but argued that the federal government could take action if it chose to do so.

Mamdani has publicly stated that he believes anyone facing charges before the International Criminal Court should be held accountable through legal proceedings. His comments have attracted significant attention in the United States, where debate over the Gaza conflict and Washington’s relationship with Israel remains deeply divided.

President Donald Trump has firmly rejected any suggestion that Netanyahu could be arrested while visiting the United States. Earlier this week, Trump stated that the Israeli prime minister would not face arrest under any circumstances during his stay in the country, making clear that his administration would not enforce the ICC warrant.

Khanna responded by accusing Trump of ignoring international law and failing to prioritize human rights. He argued that refusing to cooperate with the International Criminal Court damages America’s credibility and weakens the international legal system. He also suggested that enforcing the ICC warrant could strengthen Washington’s influence over Israel, particularly after reports that Netanyahu continued military operations in Lebanon despite US pressure to observe a ceasefire.

According to Khanna, accountability should apply equally to all leaders regardless of their position or political alliances. He said individuals facing serious allegations before an international court should not expect to travel freely without legal consequences.

Netanyahu is expected to travel to Washington next week for talks with President Trump. The meeting will be their first face to face discussion since the United States and Israel carried out joint military strikes against Iran earlier this year. During the visit, Netanyahu is also expected to attend the funeral of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who was widely regarded as one of Israel’s strongest supporters in the US Congress. The visit is likely to attract international attention as debate continues over the ICC warrant, the war in Gaza and the future of US policy toward Israel.

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