Mamdani goes back on campaign promise, says NYC can't 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 he called on the federal government to execute an International Criminal Court's arrest warrant if the Israeli leader visits New York.

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.

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"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.

Mamdani nonetheless said Netanyahu would not be welcome in New York City.

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"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.

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Netanyahu is expected to travel to New York in September for the United Nations General Assembly.

"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'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.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Justice Department and Netanyahu's office for comment.

Fox News Digital's Ashley J. DiMella, Eric Mack and Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.