NYC Mayor Mamdani Backs Off Netanyahu Arrest Pledge, Citing Lack of Authority

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has recently walked back a campaign pledge to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited the city, acknowledging that his administration lacks the legal authority to do so. Mamdani had vowed during his mayoral campaign last year that his administration would enforce an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Netanyahu, accusing the Israeli leader of alleged war crimes during the conflict in Gaza. The ICC issued these warrants for Netanyahu, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and several Hamas officials in May 2024.

In a social media video released on Tuesday, Mayor Mamdani stated that a review of available legal avenues concluded the city does not possess the independent authority to execute the warrant. He subsequently called upon the federal government to join the ICC and carry out the arrest, asserting that Netanyahu is "not welcome in New York City." The United States, however, is not a party to the global treaty that established the ICC and generally does not recognize its authority.

The mayor's reversal comes amidst strong reactions from various figures. Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon condemned Mamdani's statements, accusing him of serving "Hamas' propaganda" rather than New Yorkers. Additionally, former President Donald Trump stated on social media that Netanyahu "will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America."