Mamdani says he cannot arrest Netanyahu in NYC, urges US to enforce ICC warrant

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Tuesday that his administration does not have the legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits the city later this year, but called on the US federal government to enforce the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against him.

"Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal, the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people," Mamdani said in a video posted on social media.

Netanyahu is expected to travel to New York in September to attend the United Nations General Assembly.

Mamdani said his administration had examined whether the city could execute the ICC warrant, issued over alleged war crimes, but concluded that such powers rest with the federal government.

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"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. "It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant."

He urged Washington to take action instead.

"The federal government, however, does – and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant," the mayor added. "And I want to be equally clear: Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large."

Last week, Mamdani said he was reviewing whether New York City had the authority to arrest Netanyahu during his expected September visit, following a campaign pledge made during last year's mayoral race.

Last week, US President Donald Trump declared that the Israeli prime minister would not be arrested under any circumstances.

Trump said that the only people who should be arrested are Iranian leaders and their supporters.

“He [Netanyahu] is fighting against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which recently killed 52,000 innocent protestors, and has spent the last 47 years killing American Soldiers, and others. The only ones that should be arrested are the people that led Iran into this unprecedented spiral of death and destruction, something that should have been dealt with years ago by previous Presidents!” Trump said on Truth Social.