New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated that his administration is examining whether the city has the legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). In comments reported by The New York Times, Mamdani referred to Netanyahu as a 'war criminal' and mentioned ongoing discussions with the city's Law Department regarding potential legal actions. This raises questions about the extent of a mayor's authority over foreign affairs and the legality of arresting a visiting head of state.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz criticized Mamdani's remarks, asserting that the mayor lacks the legal authority to arrest Netanyahu. Waltz emphasized that the U.S. is not a party to the International Criminal Court (ICC) treaty, and protections exist for visiting heads of government under the U.N. Headquarters Agreement. The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024, citing alleged war crimes related to Israel's military actions in Gaza, which Israel disputes.
The situation has sparked debate among world leaders regarding their potential actions if Netanyahu visits their countries. The UNGA regularly brings numerous heads of state to New York, presenting unique diplomatic challenges. Mamdani's comments are expected to draw further scrutiny of his foreign policy stance, particularly concerning Israel, which was a significant issue during his mayoral campaign. His office has not provided detailed legal analysis supporting the possibility of executing an international arrest warrant against a visiting foreign leader.