New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have entered a public dispute over the ICC arrest warrant against the Israeli leader. Netanyahu accused Mamdani of “fomenting hate,” while the mayor called for the warrant to be taken seriously ahead of the 2026 UN General Assembly.
Mamdani Netanyahu row escalates
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of “fomenting hate” after the mayor renewed his criticism of the Israeli leader and discussed the possibility of action linked to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.
Netanyahu said Mamdani was turning communities against one another despite serving as mayor of a city made up of people from many religious and ethnic backgrounds. He also rejected the allegations connected to the ICC case and described the charges against him as politically motivated and unfounded.
The exchange has gained attention because Netanyahu is expected to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. The UN’s 81st session will formally open on September 8, 2026, while the annual general debate is scheduled to begin on September 22.
ICC warrant debate returns
Mamdani said the ICC warrant should be taken seriously and argued that international legal rules should apply consistently, regardless of the official involved. He described Netanyahu as responsible for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Those remain allegations rather than final criminal findings. The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant on November 21, 2024. The court alleges responsibility for crimes including starvation as a method of warfare, murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. Netanyahu remains listed by the ICC as an accused person at large.
Israel rejects the ICC’s jurisdiction and denies accusations that its military campaign amounts to genocide. Netanyahu has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and argues that Israel has acted in self-defence following the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023.
NYC arrest powers remain limited
Despite the political rhetoric, New York City’s mayor cannot independently order Netanyahu’s arrest under the ICC warrant. The United States is not a member of the Rome Statute, which established the court, and local authorities do not control federal immigration, diplomatic or foreign-affairs enforcement.
Mamdani has acknowledged those legal limits and has called on the federal government to act rather than claiming that city police alone could execute the warrant. That distinction is central: the debate is politically significant, but an actual arrest would depend on federal authority and complex legal questions involving diplomatic status.
Trump backs Netanyahu ahead of UNGA
President Donald Trump has assured Netanyahu that he would not be arrested during a visit to the United States. Trump’s position places the federal government firmly against any attempt to enforce the ICC warrant during Netanyahu’s expected New York trip.
Netanyahu has indicated that he intends to attend the UN General Assembly and publicly confront criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza. His appearance could therefore turn the annual gathering into a major political and security test for New York City.
The dispute also highlights the limits of municipal power in international affairs. Mamdani can use his office to express a political and moral position, but decisions involving foreign leaders, international warrants and diplomatic protections ultimately extend far beyond City Hall.
