Mamdani says New York City does not have legal authority to arrest Netanyahu
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has acknowledged he lacks the legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite his support for an ICC warrant. He has called on the US federal government to execute the warrant should Netanyahu visit for the UN General Assembly.
Why it matters
The statement highlights the tension between local political rhetoric and federal jurisdiction regarding international law and foreign policy.
Zohran Mamdani said he believed the international criminal court warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest over alleged war crimes was justified. Photograph: Katie Godowski/MediaPunch/Shutterstock Zohran Mamdani said he believed the international criminal court warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest over alleged war crimes was justified. Photograph: Katie Godowski/MediaPunch/Shutterstock Zohran Mamdani Mamdani urges US government to arrest Netanyahu if Israeli PM visits US New York mayor admits he does not have authority to arrest Netanyahu, adding Israeli PM is ‘architect of a horrific genocide’
Prefer the Guardian on Google Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayor, acknowledged on Tuesday he does not have the authority to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu , but urged US federal authorities to do so if the Israeli prime minister visits the US later this year.
“Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal, the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people,” Mamdani said in a video posted to social media.
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