22.07.2026 09:50
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has called on the federal government to enforce the ICC arrest warrant if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travels to New York for UN meetings in September. Mamdani, who referred to Netanyahu as a "war criminal," stated, "He is not welcome in New York."
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani reiterated his call for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be arrested under the International Criminal Court (ICC) order if he comes to New York for the United Nations (UN) General Assembly meetings in September.
CALL TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
In a statement made last night, Mamdani said the city lacks the authority to enforce the arrest warrant issued by the ICC, the world's highest war crimes court, against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and called on the federal government to implement the decision.
"NETANYAHU IS NOT WELCOME HERE"
In a video he released, Mamdani described the Israeli Prime Minister as a "war criminal" and stated that Netanyahu is not welcome in New York.
Noting that they do not have independent legal authority to enforce the arrest warrant but that the federal government does, Mandani said, "I want to be clear: Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York. Likewise, no war criminal with an arrest warrant is welcome. It is clear that we do not have independent legal authority to enforce this arrest warrant. But the federal government does, and I call on them to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) and enforce this arrest warrant."
HE HAD CALLED BEFORE
In early July 2026, Zohran Mamdani stated in an interview with the New York Times newspaper that he and the city's legal unit were evaluating the issue of Netanyahu's arrest if he came to New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September.
TRUMP'S RESPONSE TO MAMDANI
US President Donald Trump, in a post on his social media account on Monday, addressed Netanyahu, saying, "You will not be arrested in any way during your time in the United States." Trump did not directly mention Mamdani's name in his post.
Throughout his mayoral election campaign last year, Mamdani also stated that he would instruct the city's police force to detain Netanyahu if he came to New York, in line with the ICC arrest warrant issued due to the Gaza war.
NETANYAHU FOUND A "WAR CRIMINAL"
The International Criminal Court, the world's highest war crimes court, issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Netanyahu and several others on allegations of crimes against humanity due to Israel's attacks on Gaza.