• Trump firmly states that Netanyahu will not be arrested during his U.S. visit.
• New York Mayor Mamdani explores legal options for detaining Netanyahu amid war crimes allegations.
• Israel dismisses Mamdani's comments, calling the ICC warrant against Netanyahu a "kangaroo court."

U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form" while in the United States. This assertion follows New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's statements regarding the possibility of detaining the Israeli leader during his visit for the United Nations General Assembly in September. Mamdani has articulated that his administration is evaluating its legal authority to take such action against Netanyahu, who faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) based on alleged war crimes in Gaza, according to Indiatimes and Reuters.

In response to Mamdani's plans, Trump emphasized through a post on Truth Social that those who should face accountability are leaders of Iran, accusing them of extensive violence against innocent citizens and U.S. soldiers. "The only ones that should be arrested are the people that led Iran into this unprecedented SPIRAL OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION," Trump stated. Mamdani, however, maintains that Netanyahu should face justice for his actions, asserting, "I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague," as he reiterated his perspective during various interviews, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The ICC issued the arrest warrant against Netanyahu in 2024, centering on alleged war crimes in the Gaza conflict, a claim vehemently denied by Israel, which labeled the ICC as a “kangaroo court.” Following Mamdani’s remarks, Israeli officials accused him of distracting from his governance issues by targeting Netanyahu. This controversy emerges as Netanyahu is scheduled to attend the annual UN General Assembly in New York, a tradition for the Israeli leader according to Indiatimes and Reuters.

Mamdani's comments also reflect a broader sentiment concerning accountability for war crimes. He acknowledged the complexities of influencing law enforcement against a foreign leader while stressing he will act within the legal confines available to him. “Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that's what we will do,” Mamdani noted, reinforcing his commitment to upholding legal standards, as reported by Al Jazeera and Reuters.