New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani acknowledged Tuesday that he can't have Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrested, despite promising to do so during his mayoral campaign, but called on the federal government to execute the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant if the Israeli leader visits New York.In a video posted on X, Mamdani called Netanyahu a "war criminal" while conceding that New York City could not enforce the ICC warrant on its own."As I've said, I agree with the ICC that Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested and tried for his crimes, as I do for anyone else charged by the ICC," Mamdani said.NETANYAHU FIRES BACK AT NYC MAYOR MAMDANI'S VOW TO ENFORCE 'BOGUS ARREST WARRANT'New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city lacks the legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but urged the federal government to execute the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant.(Reuters/ Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani via X)"My administration has reviewed every avenue available under applicable law to determine whether New York City could execute the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant if Benjamin Netanyahu came here," he continued.
"It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant.The federal government, however, does, and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant."Mamdani's comments underscored that a New York City mayor lacks the authority to enforce an International Criminal Court warrant or create a New York arrest warrant by executive order.Mamdani nonetheless said Netanyahu would not be welcome in New York City.MAMDANI’S ‘DERANGED’ ISRAEL TAKE RESURFACES AS HE TARGETS NETANYAHU"I want to be equally clear: Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large," he said.The remarks marked a reversal from Mamdani's 2025 campaign pledge that New York City would arrest Netanyahu if the Israeli prime minister came to New Yor...