Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in an interview with The New York Times that he was in "an active conversation" with New York City's Law Department on whether he had the authority to arrest the Israeli leader Netanyahu.

The mayor's comments come amid heightened scrutiny over potential legal actions against foreign leaders visiting the United States. Mamdani, who has been vocal on international justice issues, indicated the discussions are ongoing and no final determination has been made.

New York City's Law Department is reviewing the municipal legal framework to assess whether a mayor possesses arrest authority over a visiting head of government. Such authority would be unprecedented and likely face immediate constitutional challenges.

The Israeli Prime Minister's office has not publicly responded to the mayor's remarks. Legal experts note that diplomatic immunity and federal jurisdiction would complicate any local arrest attempt. The conversation reflects broader debates about municipal roles in international law enforcement.