Mamdani will not prevent Netanyahu from visiting NYC, Israeli leader promises

NEW YORK Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he plans to visit New York City even after Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani suggested he would honor an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him. Mamdani, set to assume office on January 1, has expressed his intent to comply with international legal orders targeting Netanyahu for alleged war crimes linked to Israel's operations in Gaza following Hamas attacks in 2023.

Legal analysts doubt that the incoming mayor possesses any authority to detain a foreign head of state. Speaking at the New York Times DealBook conference on December 3, Netanyahu addressed the situation directly. Why dont you wait and see? he remarked. Yes, Ill come to New York.

Mamdani, a self-described Democratic Socialist, has been openly critical of Israels policies toward Palestinians. He supports Israels right to exist as a state guaranteeing equal rights to all citizens, rather than defining it as a solely Jewish state. In prior interviews, he stated his intention to respect ICC arrest warrants against both Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who faces similar charges related to the conflict in Ukraine.

Experts warn that any attempt to enforce such warrants by a city mayor is largely symbolic. C. Cora True-Frost, a law professor at Syracuse University, noted that constitutional and domestic law provides little support for a mayors ability to detain a visiting world leader against U.S. foreign policy or federal legal frameworks. Supreme Court precedents reinforce federal authority in such matters, particularly where diplomatic immunity applies.

Neither the United States, Israel, nor Russia recognize the ICC, and Netanyahu maintains strong ties with former President Donald Trump. United Nations diplomats visiting New York also enjoy immunity, complicating any potential legal action.

Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat who supported Mamdani, downplayed the mayor-elects pledge, emphasizing that New York Citys mayor does not have the legal power to make an arrest. The difference in perspectives highlights broader political dynamics: Mamdani relies on state cooperation for key budget and policy initiatives, while Hochul seeks progressive support for her 2026 re-election campaign.

Public sentiment in the U.S., particularly among Democrats, has shifted amid escalating casualties in Gaza and the West Bank. Mamdanis pro-Palestinian stance helped him gain traction with younger and progressive voters, despite criticism from Jewish groups accusing him of antisemitism. Less than a third of Jewish voters supported him in the general election. Gazas health authorities report the death toll has exceeded 70,000, a conflict triggered by 2023 Hamas attacks that killed over 1,200 Israelis and left 250 hostages.

Mamdani has described Israels actions in Gaza as genocide, a characterization echoed by the U.N., international human rights organizations, and genocide scholars. Israeli officials reject the accusation, framing their actions as self-defense against Hamas. In a November 21 meeting at the White House with Trump, Mamdani reiterated his position, criticizing U.S. funding of Israels military operations.

Despite a fragile ceasefire that began on October 10, Palestinian casualties continue to rise, keeping the conflict at the center of both local and international political debates.

Author: Riley Thompson