President Donald Trump has publicly declared that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not face arrest during his scheduled visit to New York in September. This statement comes in direct response to comments made by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who suggested that the city’s legal team was considering the possibility of arresting Netanyahu when he attends the United Nations General Assembly. Mamdani has condemned Netanyahu as a war criminal charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC), advocating for him to be held accountable in The Hague.

Mayor Mamdani has been vocal about his stance that Netanyahu should be arrested in connection with charges brought by the ICC, including accusations related to war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel's conflict with Gaza following the Hamas attacks in October 2023. The ICC issued its arrest warrant in late 2024, citing Netanyahu’s alleged responsibility for actions such as starvation tactics and attacks on civilians. Mamdani emphasized that these opinions are widely held due to Netanyahu’s role in the conflict.

In response to the mayor and ICC claims, Netanyahu’s office rejected the charges as baseless and criticized the ICC as lacking jurisdiction over Israeli or American citizens. Netanyahu’s team also disparaged former ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, who issued the warrant, linking the timing to allegations against Khan himself. Furthermore, they accused Mamdani of diverting attention from local issues in New York by focusing on the Prime Minister and the Israeli state’s reputation.

Trump’s comments on Truth Social framed Netanyahu’s actions as part of a defense against Iran, which he portrayed as responsible for large-scale violence and instability over decades. Trump argued that the focus should be on those responsible for such destruction instead of Netanyahu, reinforcing his support of the Israeli leader amid international legal controversies. The exchange highlights ongoing tensions surrounding Netanyahu’s legal and political status internationally, especially as his visit to New York approaches.