• Mayor Zohran Mamdani asserts that he cannot arrest Netanyahu but calls on the federal government to do so.
• The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
• Legal experts note that the U.S. recognizes immunity for heads of state, complicating any attempt at arrest.
• President Trump stated Netanyahu will not face arrest during his visit to the U.S.
• Mamdani's comments reflect a significant political and legal conflict over accountability for war crimes.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has stated that he does not possess the authority to execute the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a video posted on X, he emphasized, "It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant. The federal government, however, does, and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant," indicating that the responsibility lies with federal officials to act accordingly, according to Times of India, NPR, and Middle East Eye.

During the video, Mamdani referred to Netanyahu as a "war criminal" responsible for significant humanitarian crises, particularly in Gaza, stating that his actions warrant legal scrutiny and accountability. He noted that under U.S. law, the city lacks the legal mechanisms to enforce such an arrest due to reasons including head of state immunity and the U.S.'s non-membership in the ICC, which complicates the situation, according to Africa News and L.A. Times.

President Donald Trump responded to Mamdani's statements by asserting that Netanyahu "will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States," suggesting strong political opposition to any judicial actions against the Israeli Premier. Trump’s remarks directly challenge Mamdani's calls for accountability and reflect a broader U.S. stance on Israel’s actions, as reported by BBC and Reuters.

Legal experts have outlined that, due to U.S. laws that favor the immunity of world leaders, attempts to arrest Netanyahu would face substantial legal hurdles, including the American Service-Members Protection Act which prohibits cooperation with the ICC. Furthermore, the historical context of the U.S. not being a member of the ICC adds complexity, as noted by Middle East Eye and Africa News.