New York Mayor Reveals Whether Netanyahu Could Be Arrested During UN Visit

NYC Mayor Considers Netanyahu Arrest During UN General Assembly Visit

Mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, stated that his city is currently exploring whether it has the legal grounds to detain Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York this upcoming year for the UN General Assembly.

This decision has earned swift rebuke and condemnation from Israelis and Americans.

Mamdani told The New York Times that talks are currently happening with the city’s legal department over the possibility of city officials being able to take action on the ICC’s arrest order against Netanyahu in 2024.

“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague,” Mamdani said. “He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court.”

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The Controversy Surrounding the ICC’s Investigation into Alleged War Crimes by Israeli Leaders

The mayor agreed that his powers and remit are still unclear, adding, “Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do.”

In 2024, the ICC stated that it ‘has confirmed that there were reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu was responsible for the war crimes and crimes against humanity associated with Israel’s military operation in Gaza following the 7 October 2013 attack by Hamas.

Israel, however, dismissed the allegations, and the United States is not a member of the Rome Statute that created the ICC.

Following Mamdani’s remarks, the issue was quickly picked up by Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon.

“Instead of focusing on his responsibilities as mayor… he has chosen to incite hostility and generate headlines by attacking the State of Israel,” Danon wrote on X.

He added, “Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will come to New York, address the United Nations General Assembly with pride, and stand before the world to state Israel’s truth.”

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Legal and Diplomatic Immunity Concerning International Leaders Attending the UN General Assembly

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said the proposal was not feasible, indicating that any such arrest would be impossible under federal law and diplomatic protections.

“The U.S. is not party to the Rome Statute, the UN Headquarters Agreement grants diplomatic protections to visiting heads of government, head-of-state immunity applies, and federal authority trumps any local mayor’s wishes,” Waltz wrote on X, calling the proposal “pure political theater.”

The UN General Assembly is set to take place in New York in September, with world leaders, including Netanyahu, expected to be there.

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