Netanyahu Confirms New York Trip Amid Arrest Calls and Tensions

WHO:

Haaretz - Netanyahu met with US President Donald Trump at the White House on July 28, 2026.

KOMO - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; Mayor Zohran Mamdani; President Trump; Jake Neiheisel, political scientist at the University at Buffalo.

WHAT:

Haaretz - Netanyahu stated, “It was one of the best meetings that we’ve had,” regarding his meeting with Trump.

Haaretz - Trump claimed that Iran has killed 52,000 innocent protestors and has spent the last 47 years killing American soldiers and others.

KOMO - Netanyahu stated, “It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant,” regarding Mamdani's call for the U.S. government to execute the ICC arrest warrant.

KOMO - Mamdani called for the federal government to join the ICC and execute the arrest warrant against Netanyahu.

NY Post - A poll released this week by YouGov indicated that nearly half of Americans think Netanyahu is guilty of war crimes in Gaza and believe the U.S. should arrest him if he’s on American soil.

Haaretz - Netanyahu claimed that Iran has killed 52,000 innocent protestors in recent years.

Haaretz - Trump stated that “the only ones that should be arrested are the people that led Iran into this unprecedented SPIRAL OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.”

Haaretz - Netanyahu stated he is not afraid of landing in a country that would enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants, saying, “We have special forces. You know, I served with them for five years... let’s give them a new task.”

NY Post - Netanyahu described his recent meeting with Trump as “one of the best meetings that we’ve had,” emphasizing their common commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

NY Post - Netanyahu claimed that if Israel is attacked, “we’ll respond with terrific force,” explaining that Iran has been hesitant to launch direct attacks on Israel due to this potential response.

Fox News - Netanyahu stated that Mamdani was "spewing hate" and "pitting one group of New Yorkers against the other."

Fox News - Netanyahu described Mamdani as a “hate-spewing elected official” who is turning New Yorkers against Jewish residents.

Fox News - Trump asserted that Netanyahu “will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America.”

Fox News - Trump claimed that the only individuals who should be arrested are those who led Iran into a "spiral of death and destruction."

KOMO - Netanyahu confirmed he will visit New York City for the U.N. General Assembly in September.

KOMO - Mamdani called Netanyahu a “war criminal” and urged the U.S. government to enforce a 2024 arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Haaretz - Netanyahu stated that Israel has "special forces around" him in case of arrest abroad.

NY Post - Netanyahu expressed he is “definitely” going to New York despite Mamdani's opposition.

WHERE:

KOMO - New York City; U.N. General Assembly.

WHEN:

KOMO - Netanyahu's visit to New York is scheduled for September.

WHY:

Haaretz - Netanyahu criticized Mamdani's actions, stating, “He’s turning them against New York Jews,” and referred to him as a “hate-spewing elected official.”

NY Post - Netanyahu criticized Mamdani's actions, stating, “He’s turning them against New York Jews,” and referred to him as a “hate-spewing elected official.”

KOMO - Mamdani's call for arrest stems from his belief that Netanyahu has orchestrated a “horrific genocide against the Palestinian people.”

KOMO - A poll by YouGov indicated that nearly half of Americans believe Netanyahu is guilty of war crimes in Gaza.

HOW:

Haaretz - Netanyahu mentioned that he served with special forces for five years and suggested they could be given a new task in case of an arrest abroad.

KOMO - Mamdani's administration reviewed “every avenue available under applicable law” regarding the enforcement of the ICC arrest warrant.

Fox News - Netanyahu mentioned that Israel has "special forces" ready to protect him in case of arrest abroad.

KOMO - Mamdani stated that his administration reviewed “every avenue available under applicable law” regarding the enforcement of the ICC arrest warrant.

(UPDATED July 30, 2026 05:55 UTC)

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu recently met with President Trump at the White House, describing the encounter as “one of the best meetings that we’ve had.” During their discussion, Trump asserted that Iran has killed 52,000 innocent protestors and has a long history of violence against American soldiers. Netanyahu also criticized Mamdani's actions, labeling him a “hate-spewing elected official” and suggested that his special forces experience could be utilized for new tasks if necessary.

(UPDATED July 30, 2026 03:55 UTC)

Netanyahu has stated that his government lacks the independent legal authority to enforce an ICC arrest warrant called for by Mamdani, who urged the U.S. to join the ICC and carry out the arrest. A recent YouGov poll revealed that nearly half of Americans believe Netanyahu is guilty of war crimes in Gaza and think he should be arrested if he enters the U.S. Meanwhile, Trump commented that the real culprits deserving arrest are those who led Iran into what he described as an unprecedented "spiral of death and destruction."

(UPDATED July 30, 2026 02:50 UTC)

Netanyahu has expressed confidence in his ability to travel to countries enforcing the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants, stating, “We have special forces,” and suggesting they could be given a new task. He also described his recent meeting with Trump as “one of the best meetings that we’ve had,” highlighting their shared goal of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Additionally, Netanyahu warned that if Israel is attacked, they would respond with “terrific force,” while criticizing Mamdani for allegedly turning people against New York Jews, calling him a “hate-spewing elected official.”

(UPDATED July 30, 2026 01:32 UTC)

Netanyahu has accused Mamdani of "spewing hate" and inciting division among New Yorkers, labeling him a "hate-spewing elected official" who is turning people against Jewish residents. Meanwhile, Trump has asserted that Netanyahu “will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America,” while also suggesting that the focus should be on those responsible for leading Iran into a "spiral of death and destruction." In light of these tensions, Netanyahu has indicated that Israel has "special forces" prepared to protect him should an arrest occur while he is abroad.

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 22:26 UTC)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that he will visit New York City for the U.N. General Assembly in September, despite opposition from Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who labeled him a “war criminal” and called for the enforcement of a 2024 arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. Netanyahu, who stated he has "special forces around" him in case of arrest abroad, expressed that he is “definitely” going to New York. This controversy arises as a YouGov poll shows nearly half of Americans believe Netanyahu is guilty of war crimes in Gaza, prompting Mamdani's administration to explore legal avenues for enforcing the ICC warrant.