Washington, 21 July (H.S.): US President Donald Trump has made it clear that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested under any circumstances during a visit to the United States. Trump criticised New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for suggesting that legal options regarding Netanyahu's possible arrest during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) could be examined.

In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote, Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested in the United States in any way, shape, or form. He added that Netanyahu is fighting against Iran and has the full support of the United States.

Trump further claimed that Iran had recently killed 52,000 innocent protesters and had been responsible for the deaths of many people, including American soldiers, over the past 47 years. He argued that, under such circumstances, there was no question of taking action against Netanyahu.

The controversy follows remarks made by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a New York Times podcast, in which he said that his administration was examining the legal implications of a possible arrest of Netanyahu if he attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Mamdani had also pledged during his election campaign to explore such a course of action.

Mamdani said, I believe Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague. He noted that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has brought war crimes allegations against Netanyahu and asserted that many people around the world share that view.

When asked what legal authority his administration would have in such a situation, Mamdani said his legal team was actively examining the issue. However, he clarified that his administration had no intention of acting beyond the limits of the law.

The conflicting statements by Trump and Mamdani have once again brought the legal and political debate surrounding Netanyahu's potential visit to the United States into sharp focus.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar