NYC mayor says city lacks power to arrest Netanyahu on ICC warrant
Why it matters: Zohran Mamdani said only the federal government could act, despite calling the Israeli leader unwelcome in New York.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said his administration cannot independently arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under an International Criminal Court warrant if he visits the city. In a video posted on X on Tuesday, Mamdani said City Hall reviewed available legal avenues and concluded New York City lacks the authority to enforce the warrant on its own, adding that the federal government could do so. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Legal experts cited in local coverage said a sitting head of government would also have immunity, and that U.N.-related visits to New York carry added protections.