NYC Mayor Mamdani Says He Does Not Have Authority to Arrest Netanyahu

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly backed down from a major campaign pledge, acknowledging that municipal authorities have no legal power to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit the city for the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Last week, Mamdani revealed he was actively consulting with his legal team to see if city officers could enforce an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

However, city attorneys and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch quickly determined that the NYPD lacks any statutory jurisdiction to execute ICC warrants in an assessment the police department was prepared to state publicly before the mayor addressed the issue himself.

In a direct-to-camera video address posted to social media on Tuesday, Mamdani addressed the legal reality while doubling down on his harsh criticism of the Israeli leader.

"My administration has reviewed every avenue available under applicable law to determine whether New York City could execute the international criminal court’s arrest warrant if Benjamin Netanyahu came here," Mamdani said. "It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant.

“The federal government, however, does – and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant," the mayor added. "And I want to be equally clear: Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large."

Because the United States is not an ICC member state, federal authorities do not enforce the tribunal's directives on domestic soil. President Donald Trump pushed back firmly against the mayor's rhetoric, making it clear that federal intervention against the Israeli prime minister will not happen.

"He is fighting against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which recently killed 52,000 innocent protestors [sic], and has spent the last 47 years killing American Soldiers, and others," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, adding that the "only ones that should be arrested are the people that led Iran into this unprecedented spiral of death and destruction."

Mamdani's comments also drew criticism from Israeli officials and local advocacy groups. Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, dismissed the mayor's statements as a political gimmick, arguing Mamdani was elected to serve New Yorkers rather than spread "Hamas' propaganda."

Simultaneously, the UJA-Federation of New York warned that the mayor's public messaging contains "distortions and disinformation" that risks inflaming antisemitism and leaving Jewish residents feeling unsafe.

Mamdani insisted at a Wednesday news conference that his stance on international accountability applies universally, noting he supports enforcing ICC warrants regardless of the target, including leaders of Hamas.

Addressing supporters who were disappointed that the city cannot detain the prime minister, Mamdani emphasized that while local police will not interfere with Netanyahu's visit, the city's tradition of public demonstration remains intact.

"I understand that because we are talking about someone who has been charged with crimes against humanity, someone who has visited this city on many an occasion, and who has been welcomed by previous mayors," Mamdani stated. "And I want to make it very clear that welcome ends with me."