Zohran Mamdani says New York will act only within law if Netanyahu visits UN Assembly
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said legal consultations are underway regarding the possibility of action against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September.
According to The New York Times, Mamdani said he is consulting the city's legal experts and relevant authorities to determine what actions, if any, are legally permissible.
"We will do whatever New York City law allows us to do, but we will not create our own laws for that purpose," Mamdani said, emphasizing that any decision would be made strictly within the limits of existing legal authority.
Zohran Mamdani launched a viscous attack on Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him “a war criminal whose place is in The Hague.”
— Iris (@streetwize) July 18, 2026
Yet when pressed on whether he would actually order Netanyahu’s arrest if he attends the UN General Assembly, Mamdani avoided giving a direct answer.
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The issue has gained attention following previous remarks by Mamdani that he would seek to act in light of the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued for Netanyahu if the Israeli premier visited New York.
However, the matter remains legally complex because the United States is not a member of the ICC, raising questions about the enforceability of the court's warrants within the country.
According to the report, legal experts have also questioned whether a New York City mayor or local law enforcement agencies have the authority to arrest or detain a foreign head of government, noting that the issue involves international law, US federal jurisdiction and diplomatic protocols.
Netanyahu is expected to visit New York in September to attend the annual UN General Assembly, where world leaders gather each year. Mamdani's latest remarks have sparked fresh debate in US legal and diplomatic circles over the extent of local authorities' powers in such cases.