SerpApi.Org
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated in a video released Tuesday that he lacks the legal authority to detain Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit New York City.
"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 in the video, which was posted on X and Instagram. "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 announcement follows Mamdani's earlier comments to The New York Times, in which he revealed his legal team had been exploring options for carrying out Netanyahu's arrest over his "alleged war crimes."
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President Donald Trump weighed in on the matter Monday via Truth Social, firmly stating that Netanyahu "will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form."
The next opportunity for the Israeli prime minister to visit New York City would likely be for the United Nations General Assembly. Netanyahu's office had previously accused Mamdani of "diverting public attention from his follies and attacking the leader of the Jewish state and the only democracy in the Middle East," according to CNN.
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Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon fired back at Mamdani's video on X, declaring: "You were elected to serve New Yorkers, not Hamas' propaganda. Do your job!" In 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other Israeli officials, accusing them of war crimes committed during and following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel - allegations that Israel has firmly denied.
Mamdani repeatedly characterized Israel's military campaign in Gaza as a "genocide."
The United States has not ratified the Rome Statute, the international agreement that obligates signatory nations to detain individuals subject to ICC arrest warrants. CNN Senior Legal Analyst Elie Honig noted that "the conduct of foreign diplomacy, foreign affairs, is entirely up to the federal government."
Both President Trump and former President Joe Biden have condemned the ICC warrant targeting Netanyahu.
Since the start of Trump's second term, his administration has intensified its opposition to the ICC, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently vowing to "dismantle" the court.
"I want to be equally clear: Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large," Mamdani declared in his video statement.
"While we cannot end the genocide on our own, we can decide whether our silence will become another weapon, and we can examine every tool we have to defend the humanity and dignity of all people," he further stated.
Netanyahu's office responded on Sunday, issuing criticism directed at both the ICC and Mamdani. "The ICC is a kangaroo court that has no jurisdiction over Americans or Israelis," the prime minister's office said in a statement on X.
