Mazal Tazazo, a survivor of the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack on the Nova music festival in Israel, pushed back against video statements made by New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "war criminal" and urging law enforcement to execute an International Criminal Court arrest warrant if Netanyahu visits New York during September's U.N. General Assembly.
The controversy began when Mamdani posted a video on X stating his agreement with the ICC that "Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested and tried for his crimes." The candidate later walked back his promise after reviewing legal options, saying NYC does not have independent authority to enforce an ICC warrant but urging the federal government to "join the ICC and execute this warrant."
What the Left Is Saying
Mamdani's statements reflect a growing progressive critique of Israel's military operations in Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks that killed approximately 1,200 people and took roughly 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials.
In his video statement, Mamdani said: "He is responsible for the killing of more than 73,000 people, for the maiming of tens of thousands of children, as those who survive undergo amputation without anesthesia, for the targeting of neonatal hospitals and maternity care centers, denying newborns even the chance to live, for the countless people he starved as he blocked food and humanitarian aid from reaching them."
The candidate argued that the ICC arrest warrant represents international legal consensus on accountability. His administration stated it reviewed "every avenue available under applicable law" but concluded NYC lacks independent legal authority to execute an ICC warrant without federal action.
Progressive critics of Israel have pointed to casualty figures from Gaza health officials and humanitarian organizations as evidence of disproportionate civilian harm, calling for increased pressure on the Israeli government to end military operations that have displaced more than 1 million people according to U.N. estimates.
What the Right Is Saying
Tazazo, in a video response shared by radio host Jason Rantz on X, expressed shock at Mamdani's statements and called them dangerous.
"I was shocked today when I saw that video. It's so dangerous," Tazazo said. "What's happening there is not genocide. People died. Yes, this is war. It's very sad. But why? Because the terrorists hide behind their people."
Tazazo referenced statements from the Israel Defense Forces that Hamas uses civilian buildings as cover for military activity, a practice international observers have documented.
She invited Mamdani to visit Israel directly. "If you want to really understand what's going on here, so come," she said. "I'm Mazal Tazazo, nice to meet you, survivor of the Nova. You can come to Israel, nobody gonna arrest you, OK? You can come to Israel and hear my story and hear the story of Israel."
Conservative critics argue that framing Israeli military operations as genocide ignores Hamas's Oct. 7 attack that killed civilians at a music festival and other communities. They contend that ICC proceedings against Netanyahu politicize international law while failing to hold Hamas accountable for using Gazan civilians as human shields.
What the Numbers Show
The Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terror attack resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 abductions according to Israeli government figures, with victims including concertgoers at the Nova music festival near the Gaza border.
Israel's subsequent military operation in Gaza has resulted in significant casualties. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reports over 39,000 deaths since October, though these figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Independent analysts have noted challenges in verifying casualty counts from either side.
The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024, charging them with crimes against humanity and war crimes. Israel and the United States do not recognize ICC jurisdiction over Israeli nationals and have rejected the warrants as politically motivated.
The Bottom Line
Mamdani's statements represent a test case for how U.S. politicians navigate the Israel-Gaza conflict, which has become an increasingly divisive issue within the Democratic Party. His reversal on the arrest promise suggests legal constraints limit municipal action on ICC warrants, but his public statements align with progressive calls for greater scrutiny of Israeli military conduct.
Tazazo's response highlights the personal dimension of the debate, as survivors of Oct. 7 attacks have frequently pushed back against comparisons to genocide or calls for international prosecution of Israeli leaders. The exchange illustrates how U.S. local politics increasingly intersects with foreign policy debates over Middle East conflict.
Mamdani continues his mayoral campaign while maintaining his position that "Netanyahu should be arrested and tried for his crimes," though he acknowledges NYC cannot independently execute the ICC warrant without federal cooperation, which remains unlikely under current U.S. policy.