Mamdani refuses to answer question about timeline of Netanyahu arrest statement

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani refuses to answer a question about the timeline of his statement last week acknowledging that the US city does not have the authority to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mamdani had promised to arrest Netanyahu while he was a candidate for mayor more than a year ago.

He told The New York Times on July 18 that he was in “an active conversation” with the city’s legal department about options for potentially arresting Netanyahu.

Days later, Mamdani released a video statement acknowledging that the city could not arrest the premier. The video included a litany of allegations against Israeli forces in Gaza.

Further reporting from The New York Times found that when Mamdani said he was in a conversation with the legal department about the arrest, he had already been told by his lawyers that he had no authority to arrest Netanyahu.

Asked about the discrepancy during a press conference, Mamdani refuses to answer.

“I’ve said all I have to say on that topic,” Mamdani says.

Mamdani also declines to engage with Netanyahu’s accusation that he was “fomenting hate” by calling for the arrest.

“I’m not interested in getting into a back-and-forth with Prime Minister Netanyahu. What I will say is that here in New York City, one of my top priorities is keeping Jewish New Yorkers safe, keeping every single New Yorker safe,” Mamdani says.

He declines to say if he spoke to US President Donald Trump about the threat to arrest Netanyahu. Trump had publicly opposed the arrest.