Trump assures Netanyahu’s safety from arrest
U.S. President Donald Trump stated on the 20th that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not be arrested in any form or manner during his stay in the United States. Trump wrote on his social media platform, “Truth Social,” that day: “Netanyahu has been fighting Iran, which has killed 52,000 innocent protesters recently and U.S. soldiers and others over the past 47 years,” adding, “He will not be arrested in any way or form during his stay in the U.S.” The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024 over charges of “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity” in the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu is likely to visit New York in September to attend the UN General Assembly. In response, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat, told the New York Times (NYT) in an interview on the 18th that he was considering legal measures to arrest Netanyahu, describing him as a “war criminal indicted by the ICC.” While Israel remains a close ally of the U.S., with bipartisan support for bilateral relations, its favorability has declined since the Gaza war.
This sentiment is particularly strong among progressive groups within the Democratic Party, represented by Mamdani. During his 2024 New York mayoral campaign, Mamdani labeled the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” and pledged to order New York police to arrest Netanyahu if elected. Even during former President Joe Biden’s tenure, Netanyahu’s hardline stance repeatedly sparked tensions.
Netanyahu is likely to visit New York in September to attend the UN General Assembly. In response, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat, told the New York Times (NYT) in an interview on the 18th that he was considering legal measures to arrest Netanyahu, describing him as a “war criminal indicted by the ICC.” While Israel remains a close ally of the U.S., with bipartisan support for bilateral relations, its favorability has declined since the Gaza war.
This sentiment is particularly strong among progressive groups within the Democratic Party, represented by Mamdani. During his 2024 New York mayoral campaign, Mamdani labeled the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” and pledged to order New York police to arrest Netanyahu if elected. Even during former President Joe Biden’s tenure, Netanyahu’s hardline stance repeatedly sparked tensions.
Meanwhile, Trump reiterated his commitment to severe retaliation against Iran on the same day, stating that Iran would face consequences “several times over” for every U.S. soldier killed. He said, “For every U.S. soldier Iran kills, they will pay a price several times over,” and added that this directive had been conveyed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, JCS Chairman Dan Caine, and all military commanders.
Since the start of military operations against Iran in February, 17 U.S. soldiers have died. Most recently, two U.S. soldiers stationed in Jordan were killed in an Iranian missile and drone attack on the 17th, and one additional soldier died in Iraq on the 18th while attempting to control and detonate an unexploded Iranian drone.
Credit: MSN
