New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly acknowledged that the city lacks the legal capacity to detain Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits the United States later this year. In a social media video, Mamdani revealed that his administration thoroughly examined the legal avenues concerning the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant for Netanyahu but ultimately determined that New York City cannot execute the warrant.
Mamdani has urged the US federal government to address the warrant and take appropriate actions. He labeled Netanyahu as a war criminal, asserting that individuals facing such accusations, including the Israeli Prime Minister, are not welcome in New York City. Netanyahu is anticipated to travel to New York in September to participate in the United Nations General Assembly. During his campaign for mayor, Mamdani had promised to investigate methods to implement the ICC warrant should Netanyahu enter the city.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024, citing alleged war crimes. However, the United States does not acknowledge the court’s jurisdiction and is not a member nation of the ICC. This legal position complicates any potential enforcement action on American soil.
Former US President Donald Trump has criticized Mamdani’s statements, assuring that Netanyahu would not face arrest in the United States and defending the Israeli leader’s actions. Meanwhile, Netanyahu himself has downplayed the situation, expressing no concern over the mayor’s remarks.