NYC Mayor Mamdani explores legal authority to arrest Netanyahu in New York

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is engaged in "active conversation" with the city’s law department to determine whether his administration possesses the legal authority to order the New York Police Department to detain Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The potential for such an arrest, which Mamdani previously pledged to pursue during his mayoral campaign, would arise should the Israeli leader visit New York City for the United Nations General Assembly, which is expected to take place this September.

Mamdani cites International Criminal Court warrant

The Mayor’s interest in the matter stems from an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in November 2024. The court accused Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, specifically citing acts of murder, persecution, and the use of starvation as a method of warfare. During an appearance on the New York Times podcast The Interview, released on Saturday, 18 July 2026, Mamdani described the Prime Minister as a "war criminal" who "belongs in The Hague."

"Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do," Mamdani said. "But we won’t be writing our own laws to that end." He emphasized that his stance is rooted in the weight of the charges brought by the ICC rather than a personal assessment of the leader, stating, "We’re not talking about a personal assessment of Benjamin Netanyahu. We’re talking about the international criminal court and the fact that they have a warrant out for this prime minister’s arrest."

Federal officials and experts dismiss local jurisdiction

The prospect of a municipal arrest of a foreign head of government has faced significant pushback from federal officials and legal experts who argue the mayor lacks the authority to act on an international warrant. The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, and does not recognize the court's jurisdiction over American or Israeli officials. In February 2025, President Donald Trump imposed economic sanctions on the court, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has recently pledged to "dismantle" the institution, which he characterizes as a threat to United States sovereignty.

Mike Waltz, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, labeled the mayor's rhetoric as "pure political theater." He noted that the United Nations Headquarters Agreement and federal protections regarding head-of-state immunity prevent local authorities from taking such actions. Representative Jerry Nadler also described the proposal as "simply unrealistic," noting that "the City of New York has no jurisdiction to do such a thing."

Netanyahu and Danon respond

Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently facing a re-election campaign in Israel, dismissed the mayor's threats during a recent radio interview on WABC, saying he was not concerned. The Prime Minister accused Mamdani of supporting "terror actors," adding, "I think the problem is that he doesn’t recognize and he doesn’t care that those who hate the Jews and Israel ultimately hate America."

Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, also condemned the mayor’s comments, stating, "Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will come to New York, address the United Nations General Assembly with pride, and stand before the world to state Israel’s truth and its unwavering right to defend its citizens." Danon accused Mamdani of failing to confront rising antisemitism in New York, a charge the mayor has countered by noting that he has increased funding for an office to combat hate crimes.

Shifting political landscape

Mamdani’s focus on the issue occurs against a backdrop of evolving views within the Democratic Party regarding United States military aid to Israel. While a measure to strip $3.3 billion in aid failed in the House of Representatives, nearly half of Democratic members voted in favor of the proposal. The mayor has characterized Israel’s military actions in Gaza as a genocide, though he has also condemned the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel as a “horrific war crime.”