According to a report by the Times of Israel on Saturday July 18, 2026, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says his administration is examining what legal authority, if any, the city would have if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September.
In an interview with The New York Times, Mamdani said the issue remains under review and that discussions are continuing with the city’s Law Department to determine what actions are legally permissible.
He stressed that any decision would be guided strictly by existing law, saying, “Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do, but we won’t be writing our own laws to that end.”
Mamdani also said he believes Netanyahu should face proceedings in The Hague, referring to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has issued an arrest warrant for the Israeli leader over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The mayor described Netanyahu as a war criminal and argued that this view is shared by many people because of the consequences of Israel’s military actions over recent years.
Netanyahu’s potential visit to New York for the annual UN General Assembly is expected to attract significant international attention, with legal and political questions surrounding the ICC warrant continuing to generate debate in several countries.
The remarks add to the controversy ahead of the September gathering, although no decision has been announced regarding whether any legal action would be possible under US or New York law……See More
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