NYC Mayor Says Legal Review Underway on Possible Netanyahu Arrest During UN Visit

WEB DESK: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he is consulting legal advisers to determine whether city authorities have the jurisdiction to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September.

Speaking in an interview with The New York Times, Mamdani reaffirmed his position that Netanyahu should face international justice following the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague,” Mamdani said, describing the Israeli leader as a war crimes suspect under the ICC’s proceedings. He added that his view was shared by many people in light of the humanitarian consequences of the conflict.

The mayor, who made the pledge during his election campaign, said the city’s legal department was reviewing the scope of municipal authority in such a situation. However, he stressed that any action would remain within the limits of the law.

“Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do, but we won’t be writing our own laws to that end,” Mamdani said.

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Responding to the remarks, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said Prime Minister Netanyahu still intends to travel to New York to attend the UN General Assembly despite the mayor’s comments.

Mamdani’s position has reignited debate over the extent of municipal authority versus the diplomatic protections generally afforded to foreign leaders attending UN events under US federal law and international agreements.

The issue also reflects broader political shifts within the United States. Recent opinion polls indicate growing criticism among Democratic voters of continued US military support for Israel, while an increasing number of Democratic lawmakers have backed efforts in Congress to restrict military assistance to the country.