Netanyahu Is 'War Criminal,' New York Mayor Mamdani Claims His Administration Lacks Authority To Arrest Israeli Leader

However, he admitted that the city has no independent legal power to carry out such an arrest.

The New York City Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a "war criminal" while acknowledging that his administration lacks the legal authority to arrest the Israeli leader during his planned visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Mamdani, a pro-Palestinian socialist politician, announced on Wednesday that his administration had explored possible legal avenues to enforce an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu in 2024 over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

However, he admitted that the city has no independent legal power to carry out such an arrest.

In a video statement posted on X, Mamdani said his administration had carefully reviewed the available legal options before reaching its conclusion.