New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has stated that while he supports the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the city government does not have the legal authority to enforce it.
In a video message posted on X, Mamdani described Netanyahu as the “architect of a horrific genocide against Palestinians” and said his administration had reviewed whether New York City could execute the ICC warrant if Netanyahu were to visit the city.
According to Mamdani, the legal review concluded that enforcement of such international arrest warrants falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. federal government, not municipal authorities such as New York City.
“Our review found that the authority to execute this type of warrant rests solely with the federal government,” Mamdani said.
Despite acknowledging these legal limitations, he reiterated his opposition to Netanyahu’s presence in the city, saying:
“Benjamin Netanyahu, or any other war criminal who remains free, will not receive a welcome in New York City.”
Mamdani’s remarks come after earlier comments in which he suggested he was considering the possibility of arresting Netanyahu. In response, former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly stated that the Israeli leader would not be arrested while visiting the United States.
The controversy stems from an ICC arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu in 2024 over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Israel rejects the allegations, and the United States is not a member of the ICC.
The issue highlights the broader legal debate over how international arrest warrants can be enforced within countries that are not parties to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC.
