07/20/2026
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says his administration is still reviewing whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be arrested if he visits New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September. Mamdani said his legal department is actively discussing the issue, arguing that Netanyahu should face the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant.
The comments sparked immediate backlash from both American and Israeli leaders. Pro-Israel Sen. John Fetterman dismissed the proposal, saying the United States is not a member of the ICC and that Mamdani has no authority to arrest Netanyahu. Fetterman told the mayor to “sit down” and focus on solving New York City’s problems instead of pursuing international political battles.
Prime Minister Netanyahu also responded, strongly rejecting the idea. He called the International Criminal Court “a kangaroo court” and said it has “no jurisdiction over Americans or Israelis.” Netanyahu accused Mamdani of trying to distract from local issues, saying, “Mr. Mamdani should focus on fixing the damage his policies have caused New York.”
Despite the controversy, Israeli officials say Netanyahu still plans to travel to New York to address the United Nations General Assembly later this year. Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said the prime minister will proudly represent Israel on the world stage and reaffirm the country’s right to defend its citizens.
