Mamdani says he can’t arrest Netanyahu as mayor and urges US to enforce ICC warrant

What Happened

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reiterated his call for the US federal government to execute the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, should Netanyahu visit New York for the UN General Assembly in September 2025. Mamdani acknowledged that the city lacks independent legal authority to enforce the warrant, which the ICC issued in November 2024 for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, including ‘starvation as a method of warfare’ and murder. President Donald Trump responded that Netanyahu ‘will not be arrested’ on US soil, adding that the US does not recognize the ICC. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently threatened to ‘dismantle’ the court. Netanyahu’s office dismissed the ICC as a ‘kangaroo court’ and called Mamdani’s threat an attempt to divert attention.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The standoff illustrates the widening rift between international legal efforts to hold Israeli leaders accountable and US political resistance. As a non-ICC member, the US is not obligated to enforce the warrant, but the call from a major US city’s mayor signals growing domestic pressure for accountability. The case tests the ICC’s effectiveness when major powers refuse cooperation, and it could complicate Netanyahu’s international travel. It also reflects divisions within the US political establishment, with some local Democrats criticizing the federal government’s stance.

Watch For

Monitor whether Netanyahu travels to New York for the UN General Assembly in September 2025 and any US government measures to facilitate or block his entry. Watch for reactions from ICC member states, potential US legislative or diplomatic moves against the ICC (such as sanctions threatened by Rubio), and further legal developments in the ICC’s Gaza investigation.