President Donald Trump has assured that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not face arrest during any visit to the United States, dismissing the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). This statement seems to counter New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s earlier comments. Mamdani had expressed his intent to explore legal avenues concerning Netanyahu’s scheduled visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September, citing allegations of war crimes in Gaza.
On social media, Trump firmly stated that Netanyahu would be protected from any form of arrest while in the U.S. He also took the opportunity to criticize Iran and endorse Netanyahu’s contributions to regional security. The possibility of New York City authorities arresting a foreign head of government has been met with skepticism from legal experts, especially since the U.S. is not a member of the ICC, and federal law restricts cooperation with the court.
The ICC issued arrest warrants in 2024 for both Netanyahu and former Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant, citing charges of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Both Israel and the United States have vehemently denied these allegations. The Trump administration, in particular, has opposed the ICC’s actions, even imposing sanctions on the court earlier this year, citing concerns over U.S. sovereignty.
In response to Mayor Mamdani’s remarks, Netanyahu’s office urged the mayor to prioritize local issues in New York City rather than pursue legal actions against the Israeli prime minister. This comes amid ongoing debates over the jurisdiction and influence of international legal bodies like the ICC on non-member states.