Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli special forces would carry out an operation to free him if he were arrested in a European country. He made the remark in an interview with the US network Fox News.
Citing his own military background, Netanyahu said: “I served five years in that unit. Now let’s give them a new mission.” He suggested Israeli special forces could be tasked with rescuing him if he were arrested abroad.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Palestinians in Gaza, and his remarks come against that backdrop. Separately, New York’s Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani, attending a United Nations session, hinted that Netanyahu could be ordered arrested if he came to New York.
Under the Rome Statute, ICC member states are generally obliged to cooperate with the court, including executing its warrants, though there is legal and political debate internationally over enforcing that obligation. Several European countries have already said they would act in line with their international legal obligations if Netanyahu entered their territory.
The Israeli prime minister gave no details of how such a rescue operation would be carried out. Conducting a military operation on another state’s territory without its consent would be a serious violation of international law and could trigger a major diplomatic dispute.
His comments came as he faces intense global criticism over the war in Gaza and as debate continues over how different countries will respond to the ICC’s move. According to media reports, the arrest warrant has made Netanyahu’s foreign travel considerably more complicated, forcing him to choose destinations with great care to avoid countries where the warrant might be enforced.
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