New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said the city does not have the legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu based solely on an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In a video posted on social media, Mamdani said his administration had reviewed the legal question and concluded that enforcement of an ICC warrant involving a foreign leader would fall under federal rather than city authority.
Mamdani Urges Federal Government to Act
Mamdani described Netanyahu as a “war criminal” and said New York City officials had examined whether local authorities could enforce the ICC warrant.
According to the mayor, the city lacks independent authority to arrest a foreign head of government under the ICC’s order.
He argued that any decision involving Netanyahu’s arrest would therefore have to be handled by the US federal government.
Mayor Calls for US Cooperation With ICC
Mamdani also called on the United States to recognise the International Criminal Court’s authority and cooperate with its legal processes.
He said international accountability should apply regardless of a person’s nationality or political position.
The mayor’s position places him at odds with the federal government’s longstanding approach to the ICC, as the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute that established the court.
ICC Issued Warrant for Netanyahu
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024, alleging that there were reasonable grounds to believe he was responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity connected to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
Netanyahu and the Israeli government have strongly rejected the allegations and challenged the court’s jurisdiction.
The warrant does not itself give New York City police automatic authority to arrest Netanyahu on US soil.
Trump Says Netanyahu Would Not Be Arrested
US President Donald Trump has said Netanyahu would not be arrested if he travels to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
The comments have added to the political and legal debate over how the United States would respond if Netanyahu entered the country while the ICC warrant remains active.
The United States does not recognise the ICC’s jurisdiction in the same way as countries that are parties to the Rome Statute.
Israel Rejects ICC Allegations
Netanyahu’s government has rejected the ICC’s allegations and questioned the legitimacy of the arrest warrant.
Israeli officials have described the court’s action as politically motivated and have denied allegations that Netanyahu committed war crimes or crimes against humanity.
The dispute has created a complicated legal and diplomatic situation, particularly if Netanyahu travels to countries that recognise the ICC’s jurisdiction.
Legal and Political Dispute Continues
Mamdani’s comments highlight the limits of municipal authority in matters involving international law and foreign leaders.
While the mayor says New York cannot independently enforce the ICC warrant, he is calling on the federal government to address the issue.
The controversy is likely to continue as debates over the ICC, Netanyahu’s potential travel to New York and the legal consequences of the Gaza conflict remain politically contentious in the United States and internationally.
