Mamdani: We Can't Arrest Netanyahu, but Feds Should

New York's mayor says his hands are tied on Benjamin Netanyahu—but Washington's aren't. In a video posted late Tuesday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city lacks the legal authority to act on an International Criminal Court warrant for the Israeli prime minister, but urged the federal government to join the ICC and carry it out, the AP reports. Netanyahu is expected in New York for the UN General Assembly in September, Politico reports. Following Mamdani's comments earlier this month that he was looking into ways to have Netanyahu arrested if he does, President Trump weighed in Monday, promising the Israeli PM would not be arrested while in the US.

Mamdani, who during his campaign said he would seek to have police detain Netanyahu over the Gaza war if he came to the city, called the Israeli leader a "war criminal" and declared him unwelcome in the city, along with "any other war criminal at large." Israel's UN ambassador Danny Danon fired back at Mamdani, telling him to "do your job" and accusing him of amplifying "Hamas' propaganda." The ICC in 2024 issued warrants for Netanyahu and ex-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, alleging crimes against humanity tied to Gaza, including using hunger as a weapon and deliberately striking civilians—allegations Israel rejects. While the ICC's 125 member countries are obligated to carry out its warrants, the US does not recognize the court, the Wall Street Journal reports.