Mamdani goes back on campaign promise, says NYC can't arrest Netanyahu

Mamdani goes back on campaign promise, says NYC can't arrest Netanyahu

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.

"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."

"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.

Netanyahu's office dismissed the comments Sunday, calling the ICC a "kangaroo court" with "no jurisdiction over Americans or Israelis."