New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has confirmed that the city cannot legally arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits the United States later this year. In a recent video shared on social media, Mamdani disclosed that his administration had explored all potential legal avenues concerning the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Netanyahu. However, they found that New York City does not possess the authority to execute such an arrest.
Despite the city’s limitations, Mamdani urged the U.S. federal government to acknowledge the ICC arrest warrant and take appropriate action. He labeled Netanyahu a war criminal and declared that neither the Israeli prime minister nor anyone facing similar allegations would be welcome in New York City. Netanyahu is anticipated to visit New York in September for the United Nations General Assembly. During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani had promised to investigate ways to uphold the ICC warrant should Netanyahu enter the city.
The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024 over alleged war crimes. Nevertheless, the United States does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction and is not a member of the organization. This position significantly limits the ability of local authorities to act on the warrant.
In response to Mamdani’s statements, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the mayor, asserting that Netanyahu would not face arrest on American soil and defending the actions of the Israeli leader. Meanwhile, Netanyahu has downplayed the situation, expressing no concern over the mayor’s comments.