New York City Mayor Jumanne Williams [EPA=Yonhap News File Photo]

New York City Mayor Jumanne Williams announced that he is exploring legal measures to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly this coming September.

In an interview with The New York Times (NYT) released on the 18th (local time), Mayor Williams referred to the Prime Minister as a "war criminal indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC)" and made these remarks.

When asked about the specific legal authority for arresting the Prime Minister, he replied, "It is a matter we are actively discussing with our Law Department," adding, "I am not discussing my personal assessment of Prime Minister Netanyahu."

Mayor Williams added, "I am speaking about the fact that the ICC has issued an arrest warrant, the gravity of those charges, and the fact that, as mayor, I will uphold the laws of New York City."

He emphasized, "We will do whatever New York City law allows, but we will not create our own laws for that purpose."

In November 2024, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Netanyahu on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.

The UN General Assembly, held in New York every September, is attended by world leaders, and Prime Minister Netanyahu has visited the city multiple times to deliver speeches.

However, the United States is not a member of the ICC and does not recognize its jurisdiction.

The Donald Trump administration previously sanctioned ICC judges involved in the issuance of arrest warrants against the Prime Minister.

Regarding this, Harold Koh, a professor at Yale Law School, explained to the NYT that while Prime Minister Netanyahu would enjoy diplomatic immunity as a head of state within the UN headquarters, he could become the subject of a legal dispute regarding his arrest if he travels through the city of New York.

Professor Koh noted, "The real question is whether Prime Minister Netanyahu is prepared to risk such a commotion," adding, "This applies equally to Mayor Williams."

He described the situation as "a game of chicken between Mayor Williams on one side, and President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu on the other."

Mayor Williams, who has characterized the actions of the Israeli military in Gaza as "genocide," had previously stated during his campaign last year that he would order the New York Police Department to arrest the Prime Minister if elected.

In a recent interview with a New York-area radio station, Prime Minister Netanyahu dismissed the Mayor's threat of arrest, accusing him of supporting the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Furthermore, in the NYT interview, Mayor Williams criticized the Trump administration's immigration policies while acknowledging the importance of border security.

He stated that he is willing to cooperate with the federal government if immigrants are convicted of serious crimes.

However, he drew a line, stating that he would not participate in the federal government’s civil immigration enforcement operations that seek indiscriminate mass deportations.