NEW YORK: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could face legal complications during a planned visit to New York, as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says he is seeking legal advice on whether local authorities have any power to act on the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against him.
In an interview with The New York Times, Mayor Mamdani described Netanyahu as a “war criminal” and said he believes the Israeli leader should be tried in The Hague, where the ICC has issued an arrest warrant over alleged war crimes linked to the Gaza conflict.
Netanyahu is expected to travel to New York in September to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
Mamdani said his legal team is reviewing whether the New York Police Department (NYPD), which falls under the mayor’s oversight, has any legal authority to detain a foreign head of government upon arrival. He stressed that the city would act only within the limits of the law.
“We are examining what authority the law gives us,” Mamdani said. “New York City will do only what is legally permitted, and we will not create new laws to achieve that objective.”
The issue has drawn renewed attention because Mamdani made similar remarks during his mayoral campaign last year, when he pledged that if elected, he would instruct the NYPD to enforce the ICC warrant should Netanyahu visit New York.
The ICC previously issued arrest warrants related to the Gaza war, alleging responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel has rejected the allegations and disputes the court’s jurisdiction.
Responding to Mamdani’s comments in a recent radio interview, Netanyahu dismissed the possibility of arrest, saying he was not concerned. He accused the mayor of supporting Hamas and criticized his stance toward Israel.
Netanyahu argued that Israel is “the only democracy in the region” and claimed that those who oppose Israel ultimately oppose American values as well. He said Mamdani should reconsider whom he criticizes and whom he supports.
The debate highlights the complex legal questions surrounding the enforcement of ICC warrants in countries that are not obligated to carry out the court’s decisions in every circumstance, particularly when foreign heads of state are involved.
Netanyahu’s expected appearance at the UN General Assembly is likely to attract significant international attention, with legal experts closely watching whether any practical steps are taken regarding the ICC warrant during his visit.
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