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New York City Mayor Eric Adams admitted that he lacks the legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit New York City.

In a video posted on the X platform on Wednesday, Adams stated: "My administration has reviewed all available avenues under applicable law to determine whether New York City could enforce the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court should Benjamin Netanyahu come here," adding, "It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant. However, the federal government does have that authority, and I call on it to join the International Criminal Court and execute the warrant."

This video came days after Adams said he was working with his administration's legal team on how to carry out Netanyahu's arrest on charges of "alleged war crimes" if he attends United Nations General Assembly meetings, as reported by The New York Times.

Adams described Netanyahu as "the architect of the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza," and said the arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court is based on allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

"Political Stunt"

In response, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon affirmed that New York City Mayor Eric Adams (Democrat) "has no authority" to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his upcoming visit to the city in September, describing the mayor's threat as "merely a political stunt."

In statements to NewsNation on Tuesday, Danon said Adams has no legal basis to carry out such an action, noting that the United States is not a party to the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024 on charges related to the war in Gaza.

Trump Weighs In

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump entered the fray, asserting that Netanyahu "will not be arrested in any way" while in the United States.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the Israeli prime minister would not face any such action on U.S. soil, arguing that the focus should be on confronting Iran, in his words.

U.S. officials also confirmed that Washington is not a member of the Rome Statute, which established the International Criminal Court, and that local authorities do not have the authority to enforce an international arrest warrant against a foreign head of government visiting the country.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant in November 2024 for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, on charges related to war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the war in Gaza—allegations that Israel rejects.

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