New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has conceded that city authorities do not possess the legal authority to execute an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The mayor made the statement in a video address published on social media, following a formal legal review conducted by municipal lawyers.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani explained that his legal team examined every statutory option to determine if the city could detain the Israeli leader should he visit New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September.
The investigation concluded that municipal law enforcement agencies have no independent power under United States law to act on international court orders.
Despite the legal limitation, the mayor urged federal authorities in Washington to intervene, join the ICC, and execute the warrant on behalf of international justice.
The Hague-based tribunal issued arrest warrants in 2024, citing reasonable grounds to suspect responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during military operations in Gaza.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani reiterated his belief that Benjamin Netanyahu ought to face trial, stating that anyone reviewing the human toll in the region should recognise the need for legal accountability.
The political situation remains complex, as US President Donald Trump stated earlier in the week that the Israeli prime minister would not face arrest while attending diplomatic events in the United States.
Officials in Jerusalem have consistently rejected the standing of the international court, describing the institution as fundamentally biased and its warrants as lacking legal merit.
