New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has confirmed that the city is unable to legally detain Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits the United States later this year. In a social media video, Mamdani explained that his administration had thoroughly explored legal avenues concerning the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu but ultimately determined that New York City does not have the authority to implement it.
Despite this limitation, Mamdani urged the US federal government to acknowledge the warrant and take necessary actions. He labeled Netanyahu as a war criminal and emphasized that the Israeli leader, along with any other individuals facing similar accusations, would not be welcome in New York City. Netanyahu is slated to visit New York in September to participate in the United Nations General Assembly.
During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani had committed to investigating possibilities to enforce the ICC warrant should Netanyahu enter the city. The ICC had issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024, citing alleged war crimes. However, the United States does not accept the court’s jurisdiction and is not a member of the ICC.
US President Donald Trump responded to Mamdani’s statements by asserting that Netanyahu would not be arrested on American soil, defending the Israeli prime minister’s actions. Meanwhile, Netanyahu dismissed the unfolding controversy, stating that he is not troubled by the mayor’s comments.
