New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has made it clear that the city lacks the legal jurisdiction to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit the United States in the coming months. In a recent social media video, Mamdani explained that his administration had thoroughly examined legal avenues concerning the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu. However, they ultimately determined that New York City does not possess the authority to enforce the warrant.
Despite this limitation, Mayor Mamdani has urged the U.S. federal government to acknowledge the ICC warrant and take appropriate action. He labeled Netanyahu a war criminal and emphasized that neither the Israeli prime minister nor anyone facing similar allegations would be welcome in New York City. Netanyahu is anticipated to travel to New York in September to participate in the United Nations General Assembly.
During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani had vowed to investigate potential methods for implementing the ICC warrant if Netanyahu were to set foot in the city. The ICC issued the arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024, citing alleged war crimes. However, the United States does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC and is not a member of the organization.
In response to Mamdani’s remarks, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the mayor’s statements, asserting that Netanyahu would not be subject to arrest on American soil. Trump also defended the actions of the Israeli leader. Meanwhile, Netanyahu himself has downplayed the situation, expressing no concern over Mamdani’s comments.