Why Mamdani's statement on Netanyahu matters

In a video message, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called Israel's actions in Gaza genocide. He said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "should be arrested and tried for his crimes," citing his indictment by the International Criminal Court.

The ICC contends that there is reasonable evidence to conclude that Netanyahu "intentionally and knowingly" deprived the civilian population of Gaza of food, water and medical supplies, including anesthesia. Furthermore, the ICC says this lack of anesthesia forced doctors to perform amputations on adults and children with no safe way to sedate them.

According to Israeli Holocaust and genocide scholar Omer Bartov, "it is very important for major figures, such as Mayor Mamdani, to say what he said, and I greatly applaud him for it." Bartov expresses concern about what the impunity that the United States and Israel’s European allies have provided to Israel means for what he calls “the future of genocide.”

Mamdani’s statement is a principled stand for international law. As Bartov warns, preventing future genocides depends on leaders naming them and states holding perpetrators accountable.

By Terry Hansen

References

• Interview with Dr. Mike Mallah on the lack of anesthesia in Gaza (1:20 mark)
• Ungrounding: The Architecture of Genocide