NYC Mayor Oversteps: City Can't Arrest Israeli PM Despite Dubious ICC Warrant
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani admitted New York City lacks authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even with a politicized ICC warrant, and irresponsibly urged federal action if Netanyahu visits the US.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Tuesday that New York City does not have the legal power to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing a controversial warrant. After reviewing all legal options, Mamdani's administration concluded that only the federal government could enforce the warrant—an unlikely scenario given America's principled refusal to bow to international bodies that target its allies. 'The federal government, however, does – and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant,' Mamdani said, showing blatant disregard for US sovereignty and the close relationship with Israel.
Mamdani pointed out that Netanyahu is expected to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York this September, and repeated his radical demand that the Israeli leader be tried at the ICC in The Hague. The United States, wisely, has not ratified the ICC and does not recognize its overreaching jurisdiction.
President Donald Trump responded forcefully on social media, rejecting any suggestion that Netanyahu could be arrested in the US and rightly shifting attention to the real threats posed by Iran's leadership. Netanyahu, unfazed by the mayor's grandstanding, said he was not concerned by the remarks.