Mamdani says New York Metropolis cannot arrest Netanyahu : NPR

NEW YORK — New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani mentioned late Tuesday that town wouldn’t have the ability to execute an arrest warrant issued by the world’s high war-crimes courtroom for Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, however urged the federal authorities to take action.

Within the video Mamdani described the Israeli prime minister as a “warfare felony” and mentioned he isn’t welcome in New York Metropolis.

“It’s clear that we shouldn’t have the impartial authorized authority to implement this warrant,” he mentioned in a video posted on X. “The federal authorities nonetheless does and I name on them to hitch the ICC and execute this warrant,” he added, referring to the Worldwide Felony Court docket.

Mamdani had advised the New York Instances earlier this month that he and town’s authorized division had been discussing arresting Netanyahu if he involves New York Metropolis for the U.N. Normal Meeting in September.

President Donald Trump on Monday advised Netanyahu in a social media publish that he “is not going to be arrested, in any method, form, or kind, whereas in the US of America.” The publish didn’t straight point out Mamdani.

Mamdani had mentioned all through his mayoral election marketing campaign final yr that he would search to order town’s police to arrest Netanyahu below the felony courtroom’s warrant over Netanyahu’s function within the warfare in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks on the state memorial for Ze’ev Jabotinsky, at Mount Herzl Navy Cemetery in Jerusalem, Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

Ohad Zwigenberg/AP

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Ohad Zwigenberg/AP

In his video message Tuesday, Mamdani mentioned his administration has reviewed all avenues out there and decided town cannot execute the arrest warrant.

“I wish to be equally clear, Benjamin Netanyahu will not be welcome in New York Metropolis, neither is some other warfare felony at giant,” he mentioned.

Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the U.N., responded by telling the mayor “sufficient.”

“You had been elected to serve New Yorkers, not Hamas’ propaganda,” he mentioned in an announcement on social media. “Do your job!”

The world’s high war-crimes courtroom issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and others in 2024, accusing them of crimes towards humanity in reference to the warfare in Gaza.

They mentioned there was purpose to consider Netanyahu and former Protection Minister Yoav Gallant have used “hunger as a technique of warfare” by limiting humanitarian assist and have deliberately focused civilians in Israel’s marketing campaign towards Hamas in Gaza — expenses Israeli officers deny.