New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said his administration does not have the legal authority to execute the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a video message posted on social media, Mamdani said his office had reviewed all available legal options to determine whether New York City could enforce the warrant if Netanyahu visited the city.
According to the mayor, the review concluded that the city has no independent legal authority to carry out the ICC warrant.
Calls on Federal Government to Act
Mamdani urged the US federal government to take action instead.
“The federal government, however, does [have the authority], and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant,” he said.
The mayor also described Netanyahu as “a war criminal” and accused him of being responsible for what he called a “horrific genocide against the Palestinian people.”
These remarks reflect Mamdani’s views and come amid continuing international debate over the conflict in Gaza.
ICC Issued Warrant in 2024
The International Criminal Court, based in The Hague, issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu in 2024, stating there were reasonable grounds to believe he bore responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to Israel’s military offensive in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
Israel rejects the ICC’s jurisdiction in this matter and has denied the allegations.
Trump Says Netanyahu Will Not Be Arrested During US Visit
Trump Says Netanyahu Will Not Be Arrested
Mamdani’s comments came a day after US President Donald Trump said Netanyahu would not face arrest while visiting the United States.
Trump stated that the Israeli prime minister “will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America,” following reports that Netanyahu could attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this year.
Netanyahu’s Office Rejects ICC Position
In his video message, Mamdani said anyone observing the humanitarian impact of the conflict should recognize the scale of the destruction and support legal accountability.
He added that he agrees with the ICC’s position that Netanyahu should face trial, while also stating that the same principle should apply to any individual charged by the court.
Netanyahu’s office has rejected Mamdani’s remarks and reiterated its longstanding criticism of the ICC, describing it as a “kangaroo court.”
The legal and political debate over the ICC’s jurisdiction and the enforcement of its arrest warrants continues to generate international attention, particularly as discussions over accountability for the Gaza conflict remain ongoing.
