NYC mayor urges US to join ICC, arrest Netanyahu

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday urged the US federal government to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) and execute the arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Anadolu Agency.

Legal review and federal authority

Mamdani told reporters that the federal government possesses the authority to both join the court and enforce its warrants. "The United States government does have the ability to both joining the International Criminal Court and executing that warrant, and that is something that I want to see happen," he said. The mayor noted that he had directed his administration to review applicable laws regarding the warrant, though he acknowledged that municipal authorities lack independent power to carry out such an arrest.

Contrast with Trump administration

Mamdani's appeal stands in direct opposition to the position of US President Donald Trump, who stated Monday that Netanyahu "will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form" while on American soil. The mayor has previously described Netanyahu as a "war criminal" and declared the Israeli leader unwelcome in New York City, adding that US citizens bear responsibility for regional casualties because they "pay for the bombs that do the killing."

ICC warrants for Israeli officials

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The warrants have placed the United States in a diplomatically challenging position given Washington's historical refusal to join the court and its ongoing military support for Israel.