New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani reversed course Tuesday evening on his previous suggestions that the city might arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, acknowledging that municipal authorities lack the legal power to enforce an international arrest warrant against the foreign leader.
In a video statement posted to social media platform X, Mamdani called Netanyahu a war criminal and declared him unwelcome in New York City, while simultaneously conceding that the city cannot act on the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. The mayor instead called on the federal government to join the ICC and execute the warrant.
The announcement represents a significant shift from Mamdani's earlier position. Earlier this month, the mayor told the New York Times that he and the city's legal department were exploring the possibility of arresting Netanyahu should he visit New York City for the United Nations General Assembly scheduled for September. During his mayoral campaign last year, Mamdani had repeatedly pledged to direct the New York Police Department to arrest Netanyahu under the international court's warrant related to the war in Gaza.
The mayor's video message came one day after President Donald Trump publicly assured Netanyahu via social media that he would not face arrest while on American soil. Trump's Monday post stated that the Israeli leader would not be arrested in any manner while in the United States, though the message did not explicitly reference Mamdani or New York City.
Mamdani explained that his administration had conducted a thorough review of available legal options before reaching the conclusion that municipal authorities cannot enforce the international warrant. Despite this legal limitation, the mayor maintained his critical stance toward Netanyahu and emphasized that war criminals would find no welcome in the city.
The statement drew immediate pushback from Israeli officials. Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, issued a sharp rebuke on social media, telling the mayor his focus should be on serving New York residents rather than advancing what Danon characterized as propaganda. The ambassador instructed Mamdani to concentrate on his municipal responsibilities.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other officials, accusing them of crimes against humanity in connection with the Gaza conflict. The court alleged that Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant employed starvation as a warfare method by restricting humanitarian aid and deliberately targeted civilians during Israel's military campaign against Hamas. Israeli officials have consistently denied these allegations.
The United States is not a member of the International Criminal Court and does not recognize its jurisdiction over American citizens or allies. This legal framework significantly limits any potential enforcement of ICC warrants on American territory, regardless of municipal intentions.
