New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated Tuesday that his administration lacks the legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court. Mamdani called on the U.S. federal government to take action instead.
The mayor had previously said earlier this month that he was exploring the legal possibility of executing the ICC warrant if Netanyahu attended the UN General Assembly in September. However, after review, Mamdani concluded that city police cannot enforce international arrest warrants, and only federal authorities have that power.
Mamdani urged the Biden administration to carry out the arrest, emphasizing that New York City alone cannot act on the ICC’s warrant. The warrant accuses Netanyahu of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the conflict in Gaza.
The mayor’s comments come as Netanyahu is expected to travel to New York for the UN meetings. Mamdani said he hopes federal officials will step in to ensure the warrant is executed.