New York Mayor Calls for Federal Action on Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has declared that the city cannot enforce an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a recent video, he labeled Netanyahu a 'war criminal' and called on the federal government to take action. Mamdani's comments come as he prepares for the possibility of Netanyahu attending the UN General Assembly in September. The mayor's stance has drawn criticism from Israeli officials, who argue he should focus on serving New Yorkers rather than engaging in international disputes. The ICC's warrant accuses Netanyahu of crimes against humanity related to the Gaza conflict, which he denies.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 22, 2026, 11:31 IST

Mayor Mamdani's Stance on Netanyahu

On Tuesday evening, New York's Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that the city lacks the legal authority to enforce an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, he urged the federal government to take action.

In a video shared on social media, Mamdani labeled Netanyahu a 'war criminal' and stated that he is not welcome in New York City.

"We do not possess the independent legal power to carry out this warrant," Mamdani explained. "The federal government does have that authority, and I urge them to collaborate with the ICC to execute this warrant," he added.

Earlier this month, Mamdani had indicated to a major newspaper that discussions were underway regarding the potential arrest of Netanyahu if he attended the UN General Assembly in September.

In a social media post, former President Donald Trump assured Netanyahu that he would not face arrest while in the United States, without directly referencing Mamdani.

During his mayoral campaign last year, Mamdani had pledged to instruct the city police to arrest Netanyahu based on the ICC's warrant related to his actions during the Gaza conflict.

In his recent video message, Mamdani reiterated that his administration explored all possible options and concluded that the city cannot enforce the arrest warrant.

"Let me be clear, Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large," he stated.

In response, Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the UN, criticized the mayor, saying, "Enough. You were elected to serve New Yorkers, not to promote Hamas' propaganda. Do your job!"

The ICC had issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and others in 2024, accusing them of crimes against humanity related to the Gaza conflict. The court alleged that Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had employed 'starvation as a method of warfare' by limiting humanitarian aid and intentionally targeting civilians during Israel's operations against Hamas in Gaza, claims that Israeli officials have denied.