New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has openly stated that the city is powerless to detain Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit the United States later this year. In a social media video, Mamdani revealed that his administration had examined all potential legal avenues concerning the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Netanyahu. However, they concluded that the city does not possess the authority to enforce such a warrant.
Despite this limitation, Mamdani urged the US federal government to acknowledge the warrant and take necessary actions. He labeled Netanyahu as a war criminal, emphasizing that the Israeli leader, along with anyone else facing similar allegations, would not be welcome in New York City. Netanyahu is anticipated to travel to New York in September for the United Nations General Assembly. During his campaign for mayor, Mamdani had promised to investigate how to enforce the ICC warrant if Netanyahu came to 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 participant in the organization. This lack of recognition impedes any direct action from being taken on American soil based on the warrant.
In response to Mamdani’s assertions, US President Donald Trump criticized the remarks, affirming that Netanyahu would not face arrest upon entering the United States and defending the Israeli prime minister’s actions. Netanyahu himself has downplayed the situation, expressing little concern over the mayor’s statements.