New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has walked back a previous pledge to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited the city, stating he does not possess the necessary legal authority.
Mamdani instead urged U.S. officials to execute the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant for Netanyahu, who faces allegations of war crimes.
"The federal government, however, does," Mamdani stated in a social media video. "And I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant."
The mayor's initial comments were made in an interview with The New York Times, where he indicated an active discussion with law enforcement regarding the enforcement of the ICC warrant. On Tuesday, Mamdani clarified that his team had reviewed all available legal avenues and concluded that "we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this."
The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and a Hamas commander in 2024 concerning alleged war crimes in Gaza. The court has jurisdiction to prosecute individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes within the territories of states party to its founding treaty, the Rome Statute.
Mamdani had previously described Netanyahu as a "war criminal" and the conflict in Gaza as a "genocide." He stated during his interview that "Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague," referencing the seat of international justice.
Netanyahu is expected to visit New York in September for the UN General Assembly. Mamdani reiterated in his video that the Israeli Prime Minister is "not welcome" in New York City.
The U.S. is not a member of the ICC. Former President Donald Trump previously stated that Netanyahu would not be arrested in the U.S. "in any way, shape or form," citing his role in combating Iran.
Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the UN, responded to Mamdani's remarks, stating, "You were elected to serve New Yorkers, not Hamas' propaganda."
Recent polling suggests a shift in Democratic voters' views on Israel, with 58% believing the U.S. is too supportive of the country, an increase from 45% in 2024.