The International Criminal Court ICC’s pre-trial chamber has issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister, and the military commander of Hamas, Mohammed Deif whose whereabouts are unknown. The ICC prosecutor sought warrants for 2 Hamas leaders who are believed to have been killed by Israel.
Netanyahu and ex-defence minister Yoav Gallant are wanted for the war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare and crimes against humanity, murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.
The Chamber also “assessed that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population of Gaza.”
Several EU countries arm Israel and are signatories of the document establishing the ICC.
Speaking from Jordan, the EU’s top diplomat reacted to the news.
“I will be very sober in my comment. It is not a political decision, it is a decision of a court, of a court of justice, an international court of justice,” Josep Borrel said during a press conference.
“And the decision of the court has to be respected and implemented. So, I take note of the decision of the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu, the former Minister of Defense Mr. Gallant, and the Hamas leaders. This decision is a binding decision on all states, all state parties of the court, which include all members of the European Union, are bound to implement this court decision.”
The Israeli Prime Minister has condemned the arrest warrants against him and his defence minister describing it as ‘antisemitic’.
However, the Home Secretary of the United Kingdom, Yvette Cooper, where Mr. Netanyahu is alleged to be travelling to upon the ruling, has mentioned that she cannot yet comment on whether Benjamin Netanyahu will be arrested in Britain. She stressed that the “overwhelming” majority of rulings by the International Criminal Court do turn into issues for the British law enforcement system.
Netanyahu has condemned the arrest warrant issued against him by the world’s top war crimes court.
The UK is a signatory of the ICC, unlike America, and Ms. Cooper stressed the Government respected its independence and rulings.
Asked on Sky News whether Netanyahu would be arrested if he came to the UK, she said: “That’s not a matter for me as Home Secretary.
“The International Criminal Court is of course independent and we respect its independence and the role that it has to play.
