- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has backed off his previous pledge to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating he does not have the authority to do so.
- Mamdani called on the federal government to enforce the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant for Netanyahu, emphasizing that the federal government has the legal authority to act.
- The mayor's remarks came less than 24 hours after he labeled Netanyahu a “war criminal” in a social media video, stating he is “not welcome” in New York City.
- Mamdani acknowledged that he had no legal authority to direct New York police to arrest Netanyahu should he attend the United Nations General Assembly in September.
- During his campaign for New York City mayor, Mamdani repeatedly called Netanyahu a war criminal and described the conflict in Gaza as genocide.
- The ICC issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu and former Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant in 2024, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
- Neither the US nor Israel are members of the ICC, which the US government has long opposed.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has retracted his commitment to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, citing a lack of legal authority. He stated, “It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant,” and called on the U.S. federal government to act on the International Criminal Court's (ICC) warrant issued against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza.1267
Mamdani's remarks came after he labeled Netanyahu a “war criminal” and declared him “not welcome” in New York City, where he is expected to attend the UN General Assembly in September. The ICC issued the arrest warrant in 2024, accusing Netanyahu of “starvation as a method of warfare, and … murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.” However, neither the U.S. nor Israel are members of the ICC, complicating enforcement efforts.35
Mamdani emphasized that his team had explored all legal avenues, concluding that “we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this.” He urged U.S. officials to join the ICC in executing the warrant, highlighting a shift in Democratic voters' support for Israel, with a recent poll indicating that 58% of Democrats believe the U.S. is too supportive of Israel, up from 45% in 2024.
Critics, including Donald Trump, have dismissed Mamdani's stance, with Trump asserting that Netanyahu “will not be arrested, in any way, shape or form” while in the U.S. Mamdani's comments have drawn mixed reactions, with some calling him a “clown” for his position on Israel.
“Mamdani had previously called Netanyahu a 'war criminal' and said he is 'not welcome' in New York City. President Donald Trump has said Netanyahu will not be 'arrested, in any way, shape or form' while in the US.”
The Guardian
