New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who repeatedly pledged during his mayoral campaign to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has acknowledged he does not have the legal power to do so.
In a video posted on X, Mamdani said his administration had reviewed “every avenue available” under the law to determine whether New York authorities could execute an arrest warrant if Netanyahu travels to the city.
Mamdani concluded that city authorities lack the legal authority to enforce the International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued against the Israeli prime minister.
The ICC issued its warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest in November 2024, charging him with war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with military operations in Gaza.
In his video address, Mamdani described Netanyahu as “a war criminal” and “the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people,” language that drew immediate attention across political circles.
Mamdani urged federal authorities to step in, arguing that the U.S. government holds the legal authority to act where New York City cannot.
He also declared that Netanyahu is “not welcome” in New York City, extending that position to “any other war criminal at large.”
The United States is not a member of the International Criminal Court, meaning ICC warrants carry no legal enforcement power within American jurisdiction under current federal law.
Mamdani had previously directed the New York City Law Department to investigate whether the NYPD held any legal authority to detain Netanyahu during his anticipated September visit to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
He clarified that his interest in enforcing the warrant was “not specific to Benjamin Netanyahu, but to anyone who they put a warrant towards for war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
Mamdani also described Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel as a “horrific war crime,” seeking to frame his position as a consistent stance on international humanitarian law rather than a targeted political move.
According to Palestinian health ministry figures, more than 73,000 people have been killed as part of Israel’s military response to Hamas’ October 2023 attack.
During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani had made arresting Netanyahu upon his arrival for the U.N. General Assembly a central and high-profile pledge, one he now admits falls outside his legal reach.
