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NYC Mayor Doubles Down on Commitment to Arrest Netanyahu
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has reaffirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should face arrest if he visits New York, while acknowledging that the city itself lacks the legal authority to carry out such an arrest. Instead, Mamdani called on the U.S. federal government to enforce the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant.
From Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is standing by one of his most controversial campaign promises.
But with an important legal clarification.
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In a video released on July 21, Mamdani again described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a "war criminal" and said he should be arrested if he comes to New York. He added, however, that after reviewing the law, New York City does not have the legal authority to execute an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant.
Instead, Mamdani urged the U.S. federal government to enforce the warrant, arguing that Washington should recognize the ICC's jurisdiction and cooperate with the court.
The issue dates back to November 2024, when the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. ICC judges said there were reasonable grounds to believe the two committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel's military campaign in Gaza, including allegations involving starvation as a method of warfare and attacks against civilians. Israel has strongly rejected the accusations, calling them false and politically motivated, while Netanyahu has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
The United States, however, is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. As a result, it is generally not obligated to enforce ICC arrest warrants, which is why Mamdani acknowledged that any decision would rest with federal authorities rather than city officials.
If you've followed this far, here's why the issue has become politically significant.
During New York City's mayoral campaign, Mamdani pledged that if Netanyahu visited the city under his administration, he would seek to have him arrested in accordance with the ICC warrant. After consulting legal advisers, he now says municipal authorities lack that power but maintains that the warrant should still be respected.
His latest comments came ahead of the United Nations General Assembly, where world leaders, including Netanyahu, could potentially travel to New York later this year.
The remarks have drawn sharp reactions.
Israeli officials criticized Mamdani's position, with Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, accusing him of promoting anti-Israel rhetoric. Former President Donald Trump also said Netanyahu would not face arrest while visiting the United States.
Supporters of Mamdani argue that international arrest warrants should be respected regardless of the office held by the accused. Critics counter that the United States does not recognize the ICC's jurisdiction over its nationals or many allied leaders and therefore has no legal obligation to execute the warrant.
For now, Mamdani's position remains unchanged.
He says New York City cannot arrest Netanyahu.
But he believes the federal government should.
Editor's Note
The ICC arrest warrant remains legally binding for countries that are parties to the Rome Statute. The United States is not a member of the ICC and does not currently recognize the court's jurisdiction in this context. Netanyahu has denied the allegations against him, and no criminal trial has taken place.
