Mamdani Declares Netanyahu Unwelcome in NYC Despite Lack of Arrest Power

Mamdani delivered the statement following a legal review of whether the city could act if Netanyahu visits for the United Nations General Assembly in September. He characterized the Israeli leader as the architect of a genocide against Palestinians, citing reports of over 73,000 deaths and the systematic targeting of medical facilities. Despite his rhetoric, the mayor acknowledged that only federal authorities possess the jurisdiction to enforce ICC warrants, calling on Washington to shift its stance.

The declaration highlights a sharp divide in American political leadership regarding the ICC. While Mamdani maintains that Netanyahu is not welcome in New York, President Donald Trump recently vowed that the prime minister would face no threat of arrest while on U.S. soil. Neither the United States nor Israel are signatories to the Rome Statute, and the U.S. State Department has actively opposed the court's recent investigations into the conflict in Gaza.