- President Trump declared Netanyahu immune from arrest in US.
- NYC Mayor Mamdani sought to enforce an ICC warrant.
- ICC issued arrest warrant for Netanyahu’s alleged war crimes.
- Israel rejects ICC jurisdiction, calls the warrant
US President Donald Trump on Monday declared that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not be arrested while visiting the United States, amid renewed debate over an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against the Israeli leader.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America.”
Although Trump did not directly mention New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the statement came days after the mayor said city officials were examining whether local authorities could act on the ICC warrant if Netanyahu visited New York.
Mamdani Says Netanyahu Belongs In The Hague
In an interview with The New York Times podcast The Interview, Mamdani said he believed Netanyahu “belongs in The Hague.”
“He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court,” Mamdani said, adding that the city’s legal department was actively considering what the law would permit if the Israeli prime minister travelled to New York.
Netanyahu traditionally visits New York each September to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
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ICC Warrant And Israel’s Response
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024 over alleged war crimes linked to the Gaza conflict. Israel has rejected the court’s jurisdiction and denied allegations of war crimes.
Responding to Mamdani’s comments, Israel described the ICC as a “kangaroo court” and called the warrant “bogus.”
In a post on X, Israel accused Mamdani of targeting “the leader of the Jewish state and the only democracy in the Middle East.”
The ICC, established in 2002, prosecutes genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Neither the United States nor Israel is a member of the court.
Mamdani, who took office as New York City mayor in January, had said during his election campaign that he would have Netanyahu arrested if he entered New York City.
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