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Mamdani backs off pledge to arrest Netanyahu citing lack of authority

BBC · back to the audit

Mamdani backs off pledge to arrest Netanyahu citing lack of authority

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who previously pledged to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited the city, now says he does not have the 'authority' to do so. In a video posted on social media, Mamdani instead called on US officials to act on the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for the Israeli Prime Minister over alleged war crimes.

But on Tuesday, Mamdani said his team had reviewed 'every avenue available' under the law, and concluded that 'we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this'.

'The federal government, however, does,' Mamdani stated. 'And I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant.'

Mamdani said in the social media video that Netanyahu was 'not welcome' in New York City, where he is expected to travel in September for the UN General Assembly.

Trump responded over the weekend: 'Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America.'