Full Breakdown
Netanyahu Warns of ICC Risks, Skeptical of Iran Deal, and Defends Israel on Fox News
7/29/2026, 8:33:30 PM
Core Event
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sat down with Fox News host Sean Hannity for a televised interview. The discussion covered Netanyahu’s view of International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants, the prospects of a nuclear-related Iran agreement, recent Iranian missile and drone activity, and a New York City mayor’s call for his arrest.
Background & Context
The ICC has issued arrest warrants for several Israeli officials, a move Israel rejects as “corrupt” and “unelected.” Netanyahu framed the court as a body that could potentially detain foreign leaders, including the U.S. president, if its jurisdiction were recognized. He also linked the ICC issue to the broader regional tension, noting that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has launched missiles and drones at U.S.-aligned facilities in the Gulf while the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has struck Iranian targets. Israel’s own policy, according to the prime minister, is to respond forcefully to any direct attack.
Official Statements & Responses
Netanyahu said that landing in a country that recognizes the ICC could “complicate things” for Israeli aircraft, emphasizing Israel’s reliance on special-forces capabilities. He described the ICC as an “unelected bureaucracy” that could label U.S. soldiers and leaders as war criminals. Regarding Iran, he expressed open skepticism about any deal, arguing that Iran’s internal factions are more concerned with assessing Israel’s toughness than ideology. He asserted that Iran’s current aggression—targeting Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, and “tens of thousands” of its own citizens—demonstrates the danger of a nuclear-armed Tehran.
The prime minister also rebuked New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s call for his arrest during an upcoming UN General Assembly visit, labeling the mayor a “hate-speaking elected official” who pits New Yorkers against one another. Netanyahu highlighted Israel’s humanitarian aid to Gaza, stating that “we gave a million tons of food for them.”
Data & Statistics
- Humanitarian aid: Netanyahu claimed Israel delivered “a million tons of food” to Gaza.
Verbatim Quotes
- “You travel internationally. God forbid you had a medical emergency, and you need to land, and you’re about to land in a country that recognizes the ICC, it could complicate things. Do you worry about that?” — Fox News’s Sean Hannity
- “It was one of the best meetings that we’ve had,” — Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister
- “They should know that if we are attacked, we’ll respond with terrific force,” — Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister
- “We gave a million tons of food for them,” — Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister
