Mamdani admits he can't arrest Netanyahu who was backed by Trump during the UN meeting in New York

Zohran Mamdani when elected as the 111th Walkot of New York. (X @ZohranKMamdani)

JAKARTA - The Mayor of New York City (Walkot) Zohran Mamdani said that his city government apparatus does not have the authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with an arrest warrant issued by the world's highest war crimes court alias ICC.

However, Mamdani encouraged the United States Federal Government (US) which has the authority to follow up on the ICC's order to arrest Netanyahu.

"It is clear that we do not have independent legal authority to enforce this warrant," he said in a video posted on his X account, quoted from AP, Wednesday, July 22.

In the video post, Mamdani also described Netanyahu as a "war criminal" and said that the Israeli PM was not welcome in New York City.

"However, the federal government has it and I call on them to join the ICC and implement this warrant," he added, referring to the ICC.

Mamdani previously told the New York Times earlier this month that he and the city's legal department were discussing arresting Netanyahu if the Israeli Prime Minister came to New York City for the UN General Assembly in September 2026.

On Monday this week on his social media, US President Donald Trump confirmed the protection of the US Government under his leadership for Netanyahu.

"[Netanyahu] will not be arrested, in any way, while in the US," Trump said on his social media.