Mamdani walks back pledge to arrest Netanyahu citing lack of authority
The New York City mayor instead called on US authorities to act on International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against the Israeli prime minister.
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has moved away from an earlier pledge that he would seek to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited the city, saying he does not have the authority to do so.
According to a BBC World report based on a monitored public feed, Mamdani now says it is for US authorities to act on the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Netanyahu. The shift marks a notable change in tone from his earlier promise, which drew attention amid wider debate over the legal and political implications of the ICC warrant.
The update comes as questions continue over how, or whether, a US city could play any role in enforcing an international arrest order. Mamdani’s revised position appears to acknowledge the limits of municipal power in matters involving foreign leaders, federal enforcement and international law.
The BBC report did not indicate that Mamdani was abandoning criticism of Netanyahu or the ICC process itself. Instead, his comments focused on where responsibility lies, with the mayoral contender pointing to US authorities rather than promising direct action by city officials.
The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, a move that has prompted strong reactions from supporters and critics of the Israeli prime minister. In that context, Mamdani’s earlier pledge became politically significant because it suggested a local official could take a direct enforcement role. His latest comments appear to pull back from that suggestion.
The issue also highlights the limits of what a New York City mayor can control. Even a mayor with strong views on international justice would not typically have the power to order the arrest of a foreign head of government on a warrant issued outside the US legal system. Mamdani’s revised statement reflects that practical constraint.
The BBC World account, drawn from a monitored public feed, indicates that Mamdani is now placing the matter in the hands of national authorities rather than making a unilateral promise himself. For a candidate in a high-profile race, that change may help narrow criticism that the original pledge was unrealistic.
Source attribution: This article is based on a monitored public feed and a BBC World report.
Source: BBC World - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c204p64pqzno?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
