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Mamdani U-turn on threat to arrest Netanyahu citing lack of authority
BBC • • nation
Key Points:
- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who previously vowed to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited the city, has stated he lacks the legal authority to do so and called on US federal officials to act on the ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu.
- The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024 over alleged war crimes in Gaza, but the US is not a member of the ICC, limiting domestic enforcement of the warrant.
- Former President Donald Trump opposed any arrest of Netanyahu on US soil, citing Netanyahu's fight against Iran and dismissing the possibility of his detention in the US.
- Mamdani emphasized that while New York City cannot enforce the warrant, Netanyahu is "not welcome" in the city ahead of his expected visit for the UN General Assembly in September.
- The situation reflects a shift in Democratic voter attitudes toward Israel, with a recent poll showing increased skepticism about US support for Israel.
