City Lawyers Reviewing Mayor’s Authority
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said his administration is examining whether city authorities could legally arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a future visit.
Mamdani said he was engaged in active discussions with the city’s Law Department over the legal limits of his authority. The review comes as Netanyahu could travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September.
The mayor oversees the New York Police Department. However, he acknowledged that he remains uncertain whether he can direct local officers to detain a visiting foreign leader.
Mamdani said his administration would use every lawful option available. He also stressed that the city would not create its own legal rules to achieve a political objective.
The issue is legally complicated because foreign affairs are generally handled by the federal government. The United States is also not a member of the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the International Criminal Court.
Washington has repeatedly rejected the ICC’s authority over American and Israeli nationals. This creates major legal and diplomatic obstacles for any attempt by a local government to enforce an ICC warrant.
Mamdani Says Netanyahu Should Face The Hague
Mamdani argued that Netanyahu should face proceedings in The Hague, where the International Criminal Court is based.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on November 21, 2024. The court alleges that he bears criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity connected to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
The allegations include starvation as a method of warfare, intentionally directing an attack against civilians, murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. Netanyahu and the Israeli government have rejected the accusations and disputed the ICC’s jurisdiction.
Mamdani described Netanyahu as a war criminal because of the ICC case. He said his position was shared by many people who had watched the consequences of Israel’s military campaign.
It is important to distinguish the ICC from the International Court of Justice. Both institutions are located in The Hague, but they perform different roles.
The ICC prosecutes individuals accused of serious international crimes. The International Court of Justice, which is the United Nations’ principal judicial court, handles disputes between states.
Mamdani made a similar pledge during his 2025 mayoral campaign. He said at the time that he would seek to honour the ICC warrant if Netanyahu entered New York.
Netanyahu Rejects Threat as Political Tensions Rise
Netanyahu has dismissed Mamdani’s arrest threat and indicated that it would not prevent him from visiting New York.
The Israeli leader also accused the mayor of supporting Hamas. Mamdani has rejected similar allegations and has publicly described Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
The disagreement reflects a growing divide within American politics over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and continued US support for the Israeli government.
Mamdani has repeatedly described Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide. He has also criticised Washington for providing billions of dollars in military support while many New Yorkers struggle with housing, food and other basic expenses.
However, the mayor said disagreement over Israel and Palestine would not automatically exclude people from working in his administration. He argued that political coalitions must include people who disagree on major international issues.
The ICC warrant remains active, but Netanyahu is still at large. States belonging to the ICC are generally expected to cooperate with its arrest requests, although enforcement has remained inconsistent.
The United States is not an ICC member and has recently intensified its opposition to the court’s proceedings involving Israel. Any attempt to arrest Netanyahu in New York could therefore trigger a major confrontation between city authorities, the federal government and Israeli officials.
For now, Mamdani has not issued an arrest order. His administration is still determining whether New York City has any lawful role in enforcing the international warrant.
