New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has admitted that the city lacks the legal jurisdiction 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 had examined the legal possibilities concerning the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant for Netanyahu but found that New York City cannot enforce it.
Despite the limitations, Mamdani urged the U.S. federal government to acknowledge the ICC warrant and take appropriate action. He labeled Netanyahu a war criminal and asserted that neither the Israeli leader nor anyone else facing similar allegations should feel welcomed in New York City. Netanyahu’s visit to New York is anticipated in September for the United Nations General Assembly. During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani had committed to exploring how to enforce the ICC’s warrant if the Israeli prime minister were to visit the city.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024 over alleged war crimes. However, the United States does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC and is not a member of the organization. This legal stance complicates any potential enforcement of the warrant on American soil.
Reacting to Mamdani’s comments, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the mayor’s stance, affirming that Netanyahu would face no arrest in the United States and defending the actions of the Israeli leader. Meanwhile, Netanyahu has downplayed the controversy, expressing no concern over the mayor’s statements.