NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Says City is Reviewing Whether It Can Arrest Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says his administration is reviewing whether New York City has the legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York for the United Nations General Assembly later this year.

The review follows a campaign promise Mamdani made during his mayoral campaign, when he pledged to seek Netanyahu’s arrest if he came to New York, citing the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to “reasonable grounds” to believe he bears criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Gaza Strip.

Many New Yorkers who supported Mamdani because of his stance on Gaza say they hope he follows through on that promise. Netanyahu is expected to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly later this year. Whether New York City has the legal authority to arrest a visiting foreign head of government remains under legal review.