New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has drawn sharp criticism from politicians and online commentators after revealing that city attorneys are examining whether the New York City Police Department could arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his upcoming visit to Manhattan for the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Mamdani, who has expressed support for the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant for Netanyahu, stated in an interview with The New York Times that the city would "do whatever the law allows me to do in New York City." He added that he believes Netanyahu, whom he described as a "war criminal," belongs in "The Hague."
The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024, citing alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with Israel's military campaign in Gaza. Israel disputes these allegations and the court's jurisdiction.
Critics argue that Mamdani's proposal is an overreach of local authority and an interference in U.S. foreign policy. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz called the mayor's idea "pure political theater," asserting that federal authority would supersede any local actions. Waltz pointed to legal barriers, including the U.S. not being a party to the Rome Statute that established the ICC, and diplomatic protections afforded to foreign leaders visiting under the U.N. umbrella.
House Republicans urged Mamdani to focus on domestic issues within New York City, such as rising rents and antisemitism, rather than engaging in international affairs. They criticized the mayor for potentially politicizing local law enforcement and complicating U.S. foreign policy.
Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams characterized the proposal as "reckless," stating that such actions are not appropriate for the city and could have unintended consequences for Americans abroad. Republican New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino deemed any attempt to enforce the ICC warrant an "act of insurrection," emphasizing that the U.S. is not subject to the ICC's jurisdiction and local law enforcement has no authority to execute its orders.
The United States is not a member of the ICC, and federal law prohibits state and local governments from cooperating with or supporting the court's requests. Mamdani's office did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.