New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Tuesday that his office lacks the legal authority to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if the Israeli prime minister visits the city, but he's demanding the federal government step in and do so.
After weeks of reviewing what options might be available, Mamdani acknowledged the reality: a city government simply cannot enforce an international arrest warrant on its own soil, no matter how it might want to.
"My administration has reviewed every avenue available under applicable law to determine whether New York City could execute the international criminal court's arrest warrant if Benjamin Netanyahu came here," Mamdani said in a video posted to social media on Tuesday. "It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant."
Still, Mamdani doubled down on his opposition to Netanyahu's expected visit in September for the UN General Assembly. He called the ICC warrant justified and accused Netanyahu of orchestrating "a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people."
"The federal government, however, does have authority and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant," Mamdani said. "And I want to be equally clear: Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large."
The international criminal court, based in The Hague, issued the arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024 over alleged war crimes. The United States does not recognize the ICC's authority and is not a member of it, making any arrest by federal authorities highly unlikely.
Mamdani's shift drew swift reactions. Donald Trump posted on social media that Netanyahu "will not be arrested" on US soil, and criticized Iran instead. Netanyahu himself said he's "not concerned" about the mayor's comments.
The mayor had promised during his campaign last year to arrest Netanyahu if given the chance, turning the question into a flashpoint in New York politics. Tuesday's admission that the city has no such power deflated that pledge.
Author James Rodriguez: "Mamdani learned the hard way that campaign promises about arresting world leaders don't survive contact with a lawyer."
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