Overview
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani told The New York Times Saturday that his office is in an active conversation with the New York City Law Department to determine whether he can direct the NYPD to detain Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if the leader visits for the UN General Assembly.
- Mamdani repeated that he believes Netanyahu is a “war criminal” and cited the International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued in 2024 as the basis for exploring enforcement options while saying he will act only within existing law.
- Legal experts and U.S. officials say the move faces steep obstacles because the United States is not a party to the ICC, the U.N. Headquarters Agreement and head-of-state immunities protect visiting leaders, and federal authority generally governs foreign affairs.
- Israeli officials and U.S. diplomats sharply denounced the idea, Netanyahu dismissed the threats and Israel’s U.N. ambassador accused Mamdani of neglecting city duties, while the mayor’s stance has intensified domestic political criticism.
- The dispute could raise practical security and diplomatic questions for September’s UNGA, and what to watch next is the city Law Department’s legal opinion, any federal response, and whether Netanyahu proceeds with his planned travel.