NYC lacks authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, says official

Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has dismissed the International Criminal Court’s recent arrest warrant as “bogus,” with his office characterising the tribunal as a “kangaroo court.” The ICC announced the warrant on Thursday, alleging that Netanyahu bears individual criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes committed during Israel’s military operations in Gaza, a claim that the Israeli government has repeatedly rejected as unfounded and politically motivated.

The Israeli administration said the warrant undermines the legitimacy of the court and threatens the sovereignty of nation‑states, while the ICC maintains that its investigation proceeds in accordance with its mandate to address alleged violations of international humanitarian law. Both sides have indicated that the dispute will likely play out in diplomatic and legal arenas, with the ICC asserting its jurisdiction and Israel vowing to contest the measure through all available channels.