United States — New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the Ugandan-born Indian American Muslim, has made a U-turn, now stating that the city lacks the legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mamdani announced that New York lacks the legal authority to execute the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While Mamdani called Netanyahu a "war criminal," he urged the federal government to join the ICC and enforce the detention order.
While Mamdani stated in a video address that Netanyahu is "not welcome in New York City," he conceded that local authorities do not possess the independent legal power to detain a foreign head of state. Reason because the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute; the treaty establishing the ICC and the US government does not recognize the court's jurisdiction.
Legal experts have highlighted that the NYPD has no authority over foreign leaders, particularly those with diplomatic immunity or protection provided by federal agencies during UN events. Consequently, Mamdani pivoted his push to the federal government, calling on Washington to recognize the ICC warrant and execute it if Netanyahu enters the United States.
Netanyahu’s administration has dismissed Mamdani’s statements and derided the ICC warrant as "bogus" and politically motivated. Israeli officials, including Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon, condemned Mamdani’s remarks, characterizing the rhetoric as "propaganda" and "blood libels" while urging the mayor to focus on local issues.
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