Mamdani has captured the Democrat imagination. But his promises are falling flat.
Now Zohran Mamdani was forced to eat his words thanks to Donald Trump.
Mamdani Backpedals on Campaign Vow, Admits He Can’t Actually Arrest Netanyahu
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani acknowledged Tuesday that he can’t have Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrested, despite promising to do so during his mayoral campaign, but called on the federal government to execute the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant if the Israeli leader visits New York.
Mamdani Concedes His Signature Promise Was Never Realistic
In a video posted on X, Mamdani called Netanyahu a “war criminal” while conceding that New York City could not enforce the ICC warrant on its own.
“As I’ve said, I agree with the ICC that Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested and tried for his crimes, as I do for anyone else charged by the ICC,” Mamdani said.
“My administration has reviewed every avenue available under applicable law to determine whether New York City could execute the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant if Benjamin Netanyahu came here,” he continued. “It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant. The federal government, however, does, and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant.”
Mamdani’s comments underscored that a New York City mayor lacks the authority to enforce an International Criminal Court warrant or create a New York arrest warrant by executive order — a legal reality critics say should have been obvious from the outset of his campaign pledge.
Mamdani Still Declares Israeli Leader “Not Welcome” in the City
Despite backing away from the enforcement claim, Mamdani nonetheless said Netanyahu would not be welcome in New York City.
“I want to be equally clear: Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large,” he said.
The remarks marked a reversal from Mamdani’s 2025 campaign pledge that New York City would arrest Netanyahu if the Israeli prime minister came to New York. Mamdani’s comments came two days after he told The New York Times that the city’s Law Department was reviewing whether New York had the legal authority to arrest Netanyahu if he visited the city.
“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague,” Mamdani told the Times. “He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court.”
Netanyahu is expected to travel to New York in September for the United Nations General Assembly.
Netanyahu’s Office Fires Back, Calls Out Mamdani’s Own Record
Netanyahu’s office dismissed the comments Sunday, calling the ICC a “kangaroo court” with “no jurisdiction over Americans or Israelis.”
“Instead of backing Khan’s criminal behaviour, Mr. Mamdani should focus on fixing the damage his policies have caused New York,” Netanyahu’s office said.
The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity tied to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The United States has never recognized the ICC’s jurisdiction over Israeli or American officials.
