New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has stepped back from his earlier pledge to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited the city, saying he does not have the legal authority to do so. Mayor Revises Earlier PositionIn a video posted on social media, Mamdani said his administration had examined all available legal options and concluded that the city lacked the independent authority to enforce an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). "The federal government, however, does," he said, urging the United States to join the ICC and carry out the warrant. ICC Warrant and US PositionNetanyahu is expected to visit New York in September to attend the UN General Assembly. Although the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged war crimes in Gaza, the United States is not a member of the court, meaning it is not obligated to enforce its warrants. The ICC issued the warrant in 2024 as part of its investigation into the Gaza conflict. At the same time, it also issued an arrest warrant for a Hamas commander. The court has jurisdiction over allegations of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed on the territory of states that are parties to its founding Rome Statute. President Donald Trump has rejected any suggestion that Netanyahu could face arrest while in the United States. Writing on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said the Israeli leader would not be "arrested, in any way, shape or form" while in the US. He also praised Netanyahu's actions against Iran, saying he was fighting the Islamic Republic. Campaign Promise ReversedTrump's comments followed an interview Mamdani gave to the New York Times on Saturday, in which he said he was holding "an active conversation" with law enforcement about whether the ICC warrant could be enforced. However, in his latest statement on Tuesday, Mamdani acknowledged that the city's legal powers do not extend to carrying out such an arrest. Even so, he said Netanyahu was "not welcome" in New York. During his campaign for mayor, Mamdani repeatedly described Netanyahu as a war criminal and referred to the war in Gaza as a genocide. He had previously vowed to instruct police to arrest the Israeli leader if he came to the city, saying he intended to honour the ICC warrant. Political ReactionMamdani's latest comments come as opinion among Democratic voters on US policy toward Israel appears to be changing. A recent poll found that 58% of Democrats believe the United States is too supportive of Israel, compared with 45% in 2024. Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon criticised Mamdani following his earlier interview, saying the mayor had been elected to represent New Yorkers rather than promote what he described as Hamas propaganda. Join the discussion? 23 July 2026
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