Mamdani, who pledged during his campaign for New York mayor to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, says he is examining whether such an arrest could take place during a visit to the city and is consulting the city's legal advisers, according to Al Jazeera.
Key facts
- Mamdani says he is looking into whether Netanyahu could be arrested during a visit to New York.
- He pledged to arrest Netanyahu during his campaign for mayor.
- He says he is consulting the city's legal advisers.
- The remarks were reported by Al Jazeera on 18 July 2026.
Mamdani says he is examining the possibility of arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should the Israeli leader visit New York, according to Al Jazeera.
Mamdani said he is consulting the city’s legal advisers on the matter, indicating the question is being reviewed rather than acted upon, the outlet reported.
The comments follow a pledge Mamdani made during his campaign for mayor, in which he said he would arrest Netanyahu.
Al Jazeera reported the remarks on 18 July 2026. The source does not say when any visit by Netanyahu might occur or set out the specific legal basis under consideration.
The source provides no response from the city’s legal advisers, Israeli officials or the US federal government.
Why it matters
A move by a New York official to arrest a sitting foreign head of government would raise significant legal and diplomatic questions, highlighting the gap between local political pledges and the powers actually available to city officials over international figures.
Frequently asked questions
What did Mamdani say about Netanyahu?
According to Al Jazeera, Mamdani said he is looking into arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a visit to New York and is consulting the city's legal advisers.
Had Mamdani made this pledge before?
Yes. According to the source, Mamdani had pledged to arrest Netanyahu during his campaign for mayor.
Has an arrest taken place?
No. The source only reports that Mamdani is looking into the matter and consulting legal advisers; it does not describe any arrest.