Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that special security units are prepared to respond if any attempt is made to detain him during an overseas visit.
The remarks come ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in September, where Netanyahu has said he intends to travel to New York despite ongoing controversy surrounding an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant.
Speaking to a U.S. television channel after meeting U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, Netanyahu said he would attend the UN General Assembly as planned.
“If anyone tries to arrest me, there are special units around me,” Netanyahu said, according to the interview.
However, he did not explain what role those special units would play or how they would respond in such a situation. He added that he has no intention of cancelling his visit to New York.
Netanyahu’s comments come amid renewed debate in the United States over the ICC warrant issued against him.
According to recent reports, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has called for Netanyahu’s arrest if he enters the city, while media reports have said local officials have been seeking legal advice regarding the implications of the ICC warrant.
A recent Economist/YouGov survey asked Americans whether Netanyahu should be arrested upon arrival in New York under the ICC warrant.
According to the poll:
- 49% of U.S. adults said he should be arrested.
- 27% opposed such a move.
- 23% said they were undecided.
Netanyahu rejected the ICC warrant, describing the court as a corrupt institution and dismissing its actions against him.
He also argued that the ICC’s legal actions could eventually be used against American officials and military personnel in the future.
The Israeli prime minister accused Mayor Mamdani of encouraging hostility toward Jewish people, alleging that the mayor was attempting to turn New Yorkers against the city’s Jewish community.
Addressing regional security issues, Netanyahu warned Iran that it would face overwhelming force if it launched an attack on Israel.
He also said Israel would welcome efforts to expand the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia, describing broader regional normalization as a positive objective.
The ICC warrant and the legal obligations of countries regarding its enforcement remain matters of international legal and diplomatic debate. Neither the United States nor Israel is a member state of the International Criminal Court.
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