New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “war criminal” while acknowledging that his administration lacks the legal authority to arrest him during a planned visit to the city.
Mamdani, a pro-Palestinian socialist politician, said his team had explored options to enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu in 2024 over alleged war crimes in Gaza. “It’s clear we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant,” he stated in a video posted on X.
The mayor’s remarks represent a shift from earlier suggestions that Netanyahu could face detention in New York. The ICC warrant is not recognised by the United States.
Israeli officials dismissed the comments. Ambassador Danny Danon accused Mamdani of promoting “Hamas’ propaganda” instead of focusing on city governance.
President Donald Trump also rejected any possibility of arrest, stating Netanyahu would not be detained in the US.
