NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani says New York lacks legal authority to arrest Netanyahu on ICC warrant but demands federal government enforce it.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says his administration cannot arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on an International Criminal Court warrant, but he’s calling on the federal government to do it. The mayor referenced an arrest warrant issued by the ICC in November 2024 that accuses Netanyahu of crimes against humanity and war crimes connected to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The ICC warrant alleges Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant used starvation as a method of warfare by restricting humanitarian aid and intentionally targeting civilians.
Israeli officials deny the charges. The warrant did not mention genocide, though Mamdani referenced genocide in his video. According to Gaza’s health ministry, 73,000 people have been killed in Israel’s military offensive in Gaza since the war began. Mamdani’s administration reviewed whether New York City could execute the ICC warrant against Netanyahu. After examining the legal options, the mayor determined the city doesn’t have the authority to enforce it.