New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani drops his Netanyahu arrest pledge after legal review says city lacks authority, but continues criticism of Israeli leader, reports Asian Lite News Desk
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has stepped back from his campaign pledge to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits the city, saying a legal review found his administration does not have the authority to enforce an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.
Mamdani said his administration had examined all available legal options and concluded that New York City could not independently execute the ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu.
“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 in a video posted on X.
“It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant,” he added.
The mayor, however, maintained his criticism of Netanyahu, describing him as a “war criminal” and calling on the Trump administration to arrest him during his expected visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Mamdani said the federal government had the authority to act and urged Washington to join the ICC and enforce its warrant. The United States is not currently a member of the court.
His announcement came a day after President Donald Trump said Netanyahu would not be detained while visiting the US.
“Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani had repeatedly promised to order Netanyahu’s arrest if the Israeli leader travelled to New York. He recently told The New York Times Magazine that his administration was holding discussions with the city’s Law Department on whether the warrant could be enforced.
Despite the legal advice, Mamdani said he continued to support the ICC’s decision and argued that Netanyahu should face trial over alleged crimes linked to the war in Gaza.
“Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal. The architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people,” Mamdani said.
“As I’ve said, I agree with the ICC that Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested and tried for his crimes, as I do for anyone else charged by the ICC,” he added.
Mamdani also said Netanyahu was not welcome in New York City, stating that the city should not host individuals accused of war crimes.
Netanyahu’s office rejected the allegations and criticised Mamdani’s remarks, saying the ICC had no jurisdiction over Americans or Israelis.
“The ICC is a kangaroo court that has no jurisdiction over Americans or Israelis,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement posted on X.
