Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested Israel has contingency plans involving special forces should he be detained while travelling internationally. When asked during an interview with Fox News what he would do if forced to land in a country that recognises an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him, Netanyahu responded cryptically: “We have special forces, you know.”
The comment appears to be Netanyahu’s first public acknowledgment of potential military measures to prevent his arrest. The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity relating to Israel’s operations in Gaza. The warrants are theoretically binding on the ICC’s 123 member states, though enforcement mechanisms are limited.
Netanyahu’s remark raises significant questions about how Israel might respond if its prime minister were detained while travelling to a country that recognises ICC jurisdiction. Such a scenario would represent an unprecedented diplomatic and legal crisis, and the prime minister’s hint at military intervention underscores the high stakes involved.
The Israeli government has consistently rejected the ICC’s authority and accused the court of bias. Netanyahu has previously stated he will not let the warrants restrict his movements or govern his decisions as prime minister. His latest comments suggest Israel is prepared to take dramatic measures to prevent his arrest, though the practical and legal implications of any such action remain unclear.
Source: Walla News — Original article in Hebrew.
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