Nearly half of Americans back ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu: poll

A new opinion poll has found that nearly half of Americans support the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his actions during the war in Gaza.

According to the survey, conducted by The Economist in partnership with YouGov, 49% of respondents said the United States should enforce the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Netanyahu. In contrast, 27% opposed the move, while 23% were unsure, highlighting a sharp divide in American public opinion regarding Israel and its war in Gaza.

The poll also showed that 47% of participants believe Netanyahu is guilty of committing war crimes in Gaza, while 24% disagreed and 29% remained uncertain.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024, accusing him of using starvation as a weapon of war, committing crimes against humanity including murder and persecution, and deliberately targeting civilians in Gaza.

Although neither the United States nor Israel is a signatory to the Rome Statute that established the ICC, the court asserts jurisdiction over Palestinian territories, placing Washington in a complex legal and political position regarding the warrant's enforcement.

Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump stated on social media that Netanyahu "will not be arrested, under any circumstances, while in the United States."

Notably, New York State Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani last week withdrew his earlier pledge to arrest Netanyahu if he attended the UN General Assembly in New York, acknowledging that the legal authority to enforce the warrant lies with the federal government, not city officials.