New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has stated that his administration lacks the legal authority to enforce the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit the city.
In a video shared on Tuesday, Mamdani explained that his office carefully examined all legal options available under existing laws but concluded that the city cannot independently carry out the warrant. He urged the United States federal government, which holds the necessary legal powers, to take action in line with the ICC’s directive.
The ICC, headquartered in The Hague, issued the arrest warrant in 2024, saying there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu bore responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to Israel’s military operations in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump recently assured that Netanyahu would not face arrest if he attends the United Nations General Assembly in New York this September.
Mamdani maintained that those who have witnessed the humanitarian impact of the conflict should support legal accountability. He reiterated his belief that Netanyahu, like any individual charged by the ICC, should be arrested and face trial.
In response, Netanyahu’s office rejected Mamdani’s position, describing the International Criminal Court as illegitimate.
