Netanyahu arrives in Washington after Mamdani's call for his arrest in the U.S.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived in Washington for a crucial meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. This visit comes shortly after New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly urged U.S. authorities to enforce an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Netanyahu's travel route to Washington involved flying over the airspace of Greece, Italy, France, and Canada, all signatories to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. Since the ICC issued the arrest warrant in November 2024, Netanyahu has reportedly avoided the airspace of countries recognizing the court's jurisdiction, such as Spain and Ireland, on certain trips.

The meeting at the White House marks the first in-person encounter between Netanyahu and Trump since the commencement of the war between the United States and Iran. It takes place against a backdrop of divergent views on the strategy for the ongoing conflict and the future governance of Gaza. Netanyahu has indicated that Iran will be the primary focus of their discussions, while Trump aims to advance his diplomatic initiatives and his specific plan for Gaza.

The visit also occurs amidst tensions between the two governments regarding the direction of the war in Gaza and the negotiations for a new phase of Trump's peace plan. This plan includes the disarmament of Hamas and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, though an agreement on these points remains elusive. Trump has publicly dismissed the possibility of Netanyahu's arrest in the United States, stating last week that the Israeli prime minister "will not be arrested" while on U.S. soil, in direct response to Mamdani's calls for a potential detention.

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Netanyahu will not be arrested.