New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has now conceded what critics said was obvious from the start: He can’t arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
But Mamdani used the climbdown not to lower the temperature, but to escalate his attack on Israel.
In a video released Tuesday, the mayor said New York lacks independent legal authority to enforce the International Criminal Court warrant against Netanyahu. He then called on the federal government to do it instead, while again branding Israel’s elected leader a “war criminal.”
Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal. pic.twitter.com/YRezmW6YVx
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) July 22, 2026
For Israel and many Jewish leaders, the issue is not only Mamdani’s legal overreach. It is the political message being sent from the mayor’s office of the city with the largest Jewish population outside Israel.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon responded sharply, accusing Mamdani of pushing anti-Israel propaganda rather than governing New York.
“Enough with the blood libels,” Danon said, pointing to Mamdani’s attacks on Jewish organizations, his anti-Israel rhetoric, and reported outreach toward the Iranian regime. “You were elected to serve New Yorkers not Hamas’s propaganda. Do your job.”
🇺🇸🇮🇱 Danny Danon: “The person who needs to be arrested is not our Prime Minister, but you, Mr. Mamdani. Prime Minister Netanyahu will arrive in New York. He will stand right here at this podium, and there’s nothing you can do to prevent that.”
Exactly.
pic.twitter.com/6kiAEjymUu— Vivid.🇮🇱 (@VividProwess) July 21, 2026
Mamdani’s video leaned heavily on claims about Israel’s conduct in Gaza, but critics noted that his rhetoric mirrored figures and accusations promoted by Hamas, a US-designated terrorist organization that does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its casualty claims.
The controversy comes after Mamdani had previously promised during his campaign to arrest Netanyahu if the Israeli prime minister came to New York. His office later reviewed the matter and admitted the city has no such power.
Netanyahu is scheduled to visit New York City in September for the UN General Assembly.
Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York accused Mamdani of applying a glaring double standard, saying the mayor has shown little interest in pursuing dictators and enemies of the United States while singling out Israel.
Former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman called the video one of the most dishonest attacks on Israel ever promoted by an American government official.
This may be the most horrific package of lies against the State of Israel ever promoted by a government official. Even Hamas does not lie to this extent! It is despicable and entirely unbecoming a mayor of New York City. To those who voted for this Jew-hater, shame on you. https://t.co/DkVJy6IrhJ
— David M Friedman (@DavidM_Friedman) July 22, 2026
For Mamdani, the legal question may now be settled. The political one is not.
Why is the mayor of New York spending his time trying to criminalize Israel’s leader while his own city demands his attention?
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