Mamdani reiterated that Netanyahu “belongs in The Hague” over alleged war crimes, while Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon accused the mayor of fuelling hostility instead of tackling antisemitism in New York.
BY PC Bureau
July 19, 2026: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he is consulting legal advisers to determine whether he has any authority to order the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session later this year, reigniting a politically charged debate over the enforcement of International Criminal Court (ICC) warrants in the United States.
In an interview with The New York Times published on Saturday, Mamdani reaffirmed his long-held position that Netanyahu should face trial before the International Criminal Court in The Hague, which issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for the Israeli leader and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Israel has strongly rejected the allegations, calling them politically motivated and without legal basis.
“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague,” Mamdani told the newspaper. “He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court. That is an opinion that is held by many, purely because of what his actions have wrought over these last many years.”
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he is in “an active conversation” about whether he has the authority to order the arrest of Israeli PM Netanyahu if he visits New York for the UN General Assembly. pic.twitter.com/LTaPwaykpX
— KolHaolam (@KolHaolam) July 19, 2026
The Democratic mayor said he is currently examining what legal powers, if any, are available to New York City authorities should Netanyahu enter the city for the annual UN General Assembly high-level meetings.
“Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do,” Mamdani said, acknowledging that he remains uncertain about the extent of his authority as mayor and is seeking guidance from the city’s legal counsel.
Campaign Promise Revived
Mamdani’s remarks revive a campaign pledge he made during his successful mayoral bid, when he vowed that if Netanyahu visited New York under his administration, he would seek to have him arrested in accordance with the ICC warrant. The statement drew both praise from pro-Palestinian groups and fierce criticism from Israel’s supporters.
His latest comments come as world leaders prepare to gather in New York for the UN General Assembly, where Netanyahu is widely expected to address the international body if he attends.
Israeli Envoy Condemns Remarks
The mayor’s comments triggered an immediate response from Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, who accused Mamdani of exploiting the issue for political attention instead of addressing problems within New York City.
“Instead of focusing on his responsibilities as mayor and confronting the rising wave of antisemitism in his city, he has chosen to incite hostility and generate headlines by attacking the State of Israel,” Danon wrote on X.
Danon insisted that Netanyahu would not be intimidated by such statements.
“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will come to New York, address the United Nations General Assembly with pride, and stand before the world to state Israel’s truth and its unwavering right to defend its citizens,” he wrote.
“And if anyone should be arrested, it is NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani.”
Netanyahu Responds Personally
The war of words has also become increasingly personal. During a recent interview on a New York radio programme, Netanyahu accused Mamdani of sympathising with Hamas and alleged that the mayor “secretly… hates America.”
Mamdani, one of the most outspoken elected officials in the United States on the Gaza conflict, has repeatedly criticised Israel’s military operations and called for greater accountability over civilian casualties in the enclave.
ICC Warrants and US Position
The controversy centres on the ICC’s arrest warrants issued against Netanyahu and Gallant. While the court expects its 125 member states to execute its warrants, the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. Consequently, Washington is under no treaty obligation to arrest individuals wanted by the court.
The US government has consistently rejected the ICC’s jurisdiction over Israeli officials and has criticised the warrants against Netanyahu. Any attempt by a municipal authority such as New York City to independently execute an ICC warrant would therefore raise significant constitutional and legal questions.
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Can New York City Arrest Netanyahu?
Legal experts note that criminal arrests involving foreign heads of government fall within federal jurisdiction, not municipal authority. A New York City mayor does not possess independent power to enforce international arrest warrants or conduct foreign policy. Any action involving a visiting foreign leader would require coordination with federal authorities and would likely face immediate legal challenges.
Moreover, issues involving diplomatic status, foreign relations and treaty obligations are governed primarily by the US Constitution and federal law, leaving little room for local governments to act independently.
UN General Assembly and Diplomatic Immunity
Netanyahu’s possible attendance at the UN General Assembly introduces another layer of legal complexity.
Under the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement between the United States and the United Nations, the US is generally obligated to facilitate entry for representatives of member states attending official UN meetings. This obligation exists regardless of bilateral political disagreements.
In addition, sitting heads of government traditionally enjoy personal immunity (immunity ratione personae) under customary international law while performing official functions abroad. Although the ICC has ruled that such immunity does not bar proceedings before the court itself for states bound by the Rome Statute, the practical enforcement of arrest warrants remains dependent on national authorities.
Because the United States is not an ICC member state and recognises diplomatic protections for visiting foreign leaders, legal scholars broadly consider it highly unlikely that Netanyahu would face arrest while attending UN meetings in New York.
The latest exchange nevertheless underscores the deepening political divide over the Gaza war, the authority of international courts, and the increasingly contentious relationship between New York’s mayor and Israel’s government as the annual UN gathering approaches.
