Mamdani: Netanyahu “not welcome” in New York

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated that Benjamin Netanyahu is “not welcome” in the city and called on the federal government to enforce the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, known as the ICC. In a video released on July 22, he also acknowledged that the city lacks independent legal authority to detain the Israeli prime minister on its own.

The statement comes as anticipation grows for the UN General Assembly in September, an event Netanyahu typically attends in New York. Mamdani thus shifted pressure from the municipal sphere to Washington, after reviewing available legal options with his team. The shift matters because it corrects his initial position. Days earlier, the mayor had said he was studying how to enforce the warrant if Netanyahu traveled to the city, but now admits that path does not depend on the mayor’s office.

What did Mamdani say and what changed in his position?

In his new message, Mamdani stated that Netanyahu is “not welcome” in New York and described him as a “war criminal.” He also called on the federal government to join the ICC and enforce the warrant if the Israeli leader sets foot on U.S. territory.

Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal. pic.twitter.com/YRezmW6YVx

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) July 22, 2026

The key development is the acknowledgment of legal limitations. According to his administration’s own review, New York lacks autonomous authority to unilaterally apply an international warrant against a foreign leader. This marks an important difference from his previous statements. In an cited interview, Mamdani said he would do everything the law allowed, but would not draft new rules for that purpose.

What role does the International Criminal Court have?

The legal basis for Mamdani’s claim is the arrest warrant issued by the ICC in November 2024 against Netanyahu. According to UN News, the warrant was issued for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The decision was also covered by BBC Mundo, which explained that the ICC attributes alleged criminal responsibility to Netanyahu for war crimes and crimes against humanity. This ruling made the case a matter of international scope, beyond the political dispute in New York.

Mamdani returned to this framework in his video. His argument is that the gravity of the accusations makes a normal visit by Netanyahu to the city inadmissible, especially