NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said late Tuesday that the city would not be able to execute an arrest warrant issued by the world鈥檚 top war-crimes court for Israel鈥檚 , but urged the federal government to do so.
In the video described the Israeli prime minister as a 鈥渨ar criminal鈥� and said he is not welcome in New York City.
鈥淚t is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant,鈥� he said in a video posted on X. 鈥淭he federal government however does and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant,鈥� he added, referring to the International Criminal Court.
Mamdani had told the New York Times earlier this month that he and the city鈥檚 legal department were discussing arresting Netanyahu if he comes to New York City for the U.N. General Assembly in September.
President Donald Trump on Monday told Netanyahu in a social media post that he 鈥渨ill not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America.鈥� The post did not directly mention Mamdani.
Mamdani had said throughout his mayoral election campaign last year that he would seek to order the city鈥檚 police to arrest Netanyahu under the criminal court’s warrant over Netanyahu鈥檚 role in the war in Gaza.
In his video message Tuesday, Mamdani said his administration has reviewed all avenues available and determined the city can’t execute the arrest warrant.
鈥淚 want to be equally clear, Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large,” he said.
Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the U.N., responded by telling the mayor 鈥渆nough.鈥�
鈥淵ou were elected to serve New Yorkers, not Hamas鈥� propaganda,鈥� he said in a statement on social media. 鈥淒o your job!鈥�
The world鈥檚 top war-crimes court for Netanyahu and others in 2024, accusing them of crimes against humanity in connection with the war in Gaza.
They said there was reason to believe Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have used 鈥渟tarvation as a method of warfare鈥� by restricting humanitarian aid and have intentionally targeted civilians in Israel鈥檚 campaign against Hamas in Gaza 鈥� charges Israeli officials deny.
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