Mayor Mamdani backs off arrest pledge, claims no authority

Sun Sep 06 2026 05:13:29 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

NYC mayor says he cannot arrest Israel’s Netanyahu under ICC warrant, urges U.S. to join the court.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has retracted his earlier promise to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits the U.S., citing a lack of local authority. He now calls on the federal government—and the United States—to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) so the warrant can be enforced. The ICC issued the arrest order in 2024 over alleged war crimes in Gaza, sparking political backlash. Mamdani’s comments come amid shifting views among U.S. Democrats on Israel’s support and diplomatic tensions with the Israeli ambassador to the UN.

Mayor Mamdani backs off arrest pledge, claims no authority

New York City’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, announced that he lacks the authority to enforce an International Criminal Court warrant that would target Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits U.S. territory.

Mamdani, who previously vowed to arrest Netanyahu during a campaign, now says the federal government has the sole legal power to act and urges the U.S. to join the ICC.

The ICC issued the warrant in 2024 over alleged war crimes in Gaza, a move that has ignited political debate across the globe.

His comments come amid shifting views among U.S. Democrats regarding Israel’s support and sparking tensions with the Israeli ambassador to the UN.

Why does this matter? The mayor’s stance highlights the limitations of local authority on international law and the political pressures surrounding Gaza.