Netanyahu says Israeli special forces would rescue him if arrested abroad

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News that Israeli special forces would intervene to rescue him if he were arrested in a European country.

Referring to his military service, Netanyahu said: “I served in it for five years, and let’s assign them a new mission,” suggesting that the unit could be tasked with rescuing him should he be detained abroad.

Netanyahu’s remarks come against the backdrop of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over war crimes and crimes against humanity, Israel committed against the Palestinians during its ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Under the Rome Statute, member states are generally required to cooperate with the court, including by executing arrest warrants, although the application of those obligations has been the subject of legal and political debate. Several European governments have previously said they would act in accordance with their international legal obligations if Netanyahu were to enter their territory.

Netanyahu did not elaborate on how such a rescue operation would be carried out. Any military operation conducted by one state on the territory of another without its consent would raise significant issues under international law and could trigger a serious diplomatic dispute.

The remarks come as Netanyahu continues to face international scrutiny over the genocide in Gaza and amid ongoing debate in several countries over how to respond to the ICC’s actions.

Media reports have suggested the arrest warrant has complicated Netanyahu’s overseas travel, requiring careful consideration of destinations where the warrant could potentially be enforced.