New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has clarified that New York City does not have the legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that any action related to the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant would have to be taken by the United States federal government.
In a video statement released on Monday, Mamdani referred to Netanyahu as a “war criminal” and said the Israeli leader would not be welcome in New York City. However, he acknowledged that after consulting legal experts, he had learned that municipal authorities cannot enforce an ICC arrest warrant.
“New York City does not have the authority to enforce the ICC warrant,” Mamdani said, adding that it is the responsibility of the federal government to decide whether and how to respond. He also reiterated his support for the United States joining the ICC and recognising the court’s jurisdiction.
The remarks come ahead of Netanyahu’s expected visit to New York in September to attend the United Nations General Assembly. In November 2024, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for the Israeli prime minister over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Netanyahu and the Israeli government have strongly denied the allegations, describing the court’s actions as politically motivated and rejecting its jurisdiction.
Mamdani’s latest comments have triggered political reactions across the United States. President Donald Trump dismissed any possibility of Netanyahu being arrested during a visit to the US, stating that the Israeli leader “will not be arrested” and reaffirming Washington’s continued support for Israel. The United States is not a member of the ICC and does not recognise the court’s jurisdiction under the Rome Statute.
Israeli officials also criticised Mamdani’s remarks. Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, accused the New York mayor of using anti-Israel rhetoric and called his statements irresponsible.
A long-time critic of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, Mamdani maintained that international law should be applied equally to all world leaders. While acknowledging that New York City lacks the legal power to act on the ICC warrant, he insisted that the federal government should take the court’s decision seriously and determine the appropriate course of action.
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