Mamdani backs off pledge to arrest Netanyahu citing lack of authority
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has retracted his pledge to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu, citing a lack of legal authority. He is now calling on the federal government to act on the ICC arrest warrant.
Why it matters
Illustrates the tension between local political rhetoric and federal/international legal jurisdiction regarding foreign policy.
Image source, Getty Images By Madeline Halpert Published 22 July 2026 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.
Technically, if Netanyahu set foot in an ICC member state, he could be arrested and handed over to the court - but the US is not a member of the ICC.
President Donald Trump has said Netanyahu would not be "arrested, in any way, shape or form" while in the US.
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