New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani reiterated in a Monday evening interview with ABC News that he would attempt to have Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrested under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant if the Israeli leader visits the United Nations General Assembly in New York next year.

I have said time and time again that this is a city that believes in international law

Mamdani told ABC.

This is a city that deserves its values to be reflected in our commitments, and I think our city should uphold the warrants the International Criminal Court issues.

He added, “We will find every legal avenue possible to enforce international arrest warrants,” saying it made no difference if the warrants were “against Benjamin Netanyahu or Vladimir Putin; what matters is upholding our values.”

Mamdani, who is expected to take office next year, said during the interview,

If Mr. Netanyahu enters New York and I don’t do everything in my power to stop him, I don’t consider myself the mayor of New York.

He said New York City maintains strong global relationships and must stand for enforceable international justice, citing the ICC warrant issued in November 2024 for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Legal experts interviewed by ABC and other outlets described Mamdani’s pledge as “impossible to enforce,” noting the United States is not a signatory to the ICC treaty and that mayors do not have authority to carry out global arrest warrants.