NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani says he is reviewing whether his administration could arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits for UN General Assembly

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he is reviewing whether city officials could arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if Netanyahu travels to New York for the United Nations General Assembly this fall, according to remarks reported by The Hill. Mamdani made the comments in an interview with Lulu Garcia-Navarro on Saturday’s episode of The New York Times’ "The Interview."

Mamdani’s proposal, as characterized in the report, centers on whether the city administration could pursue an arrest during the anticipated visit. The mayor did not describe any specific arrest plan, charges, or timeline beyond tying the idea to Netanyahu’s expected appearance in Manhattan during the General Assembly period, the report said.

The remarks arrive against the backdrop of heightened security and diplomatic coordination around UN events in New York each year. UN General Assembly sessions bring large international delegations and extensive law enforcement planning, and Netanyahu’s anticipated travel for the event would involve coordination among multiple levels of government, according to general practice surrounding major UN gatherings, though the specific security arrangements for this trip were not detailed in the report.

The mayor’s statement also raised questions about jurisdiction and enforcement authority because arrest decisions can involve overlapping roles among city, state, and federal law enforcement. The Hill reported Mamdani was considering whether his administration could arrest Netanyahu if he comes to New York, without laying out a legal basis in the account described.

The report framed Mamdani’s comments as a review of what a city administration could do if certain conditions are met during the visit. It did not indicate that an arrest order had been issued, that warrants had been sought, or that any legal filing had begun as of the time of the interview.

The potential controversy is likely to draw scrutiny from legal experts and government officials focused on due process and the practical constraints of enforcement actions tied to foreign government leaders. Until additional details are provided, Mamdani’s comments appear to be an exploration of possible authority rather than a documented, executed enforcement step, the reporting implies by describing the mayor’s approach as a review.