New York lacks authority to arrest Netanyahu: Mamdani

The mayor calls on federal authorities to join the ICC, enforce the warrant instead

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at an unknown location, in this still image taken from handout video released Jul 21, 2026. Photo: Reuters

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said his office cannot enforce the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling on US federal officials to act instead.

Mamdani announced the decision in a video posted on social media “after reviewing every legal option available” to 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.

"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.”

<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=315&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1021544244038328%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe>

In the short video, the mayor described Netanyahu as "a war criminal" responsible for the killing of more than 73,000 people.

He said he agreed with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and that Netanyahu “should be arrested and tried for war crimes”.

Mamdani said anyone "with their eyes, with their heart, with their conscience" should recognise the devastation Netanyahu had caused and that he belonged before a court of law.

According to Al Jazeera, President Donald Trump said on Monday that Netanyahu "will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form" while in the US.

Trump made the pledge in a social media post that did not mention Mamdani by name but credited Israel with helping the US during its war on Iran, the Qatari broadcaster said.