Israel and its allies expressed strong opposition to the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on November 21, 2024. However, Turkey and various rights groups welcomed the move.
The court also issued warrants for Israel’s former Defence Minister and Hamas’s military chief Mohammed Deif.
These warrants were a response to allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza, which was sparked by an attack by the militant Palestinian group on October 7, 2023.
Israel: New ‘Dreyfus trial’
“The anti-Semitic decision of the International Criminal Court is comparable to the modern-day Dreyfus trial — and it will end in the same way,” stated Mr. Netanyahu.
He drew a parallel to the 19th-century Alfred Dreyfus affair, in which a Jewish army captain was wrongly convicted of treason in France before being cleared of the charges.
US: ‘Outrageous’
“The ICC issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous,” said U.S. President Joe Biden.
“Let me be clear once again: whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.”
Argentina: ‘Deep disagreement’
Argentina expressed “deep disagreement” with the decision, stating that it “ignores Israel’s legitimate right to self-defence against the constant attacks by terrorist organisations like Hamas and Hezbollah,” as posted by President Javier Milei on social media.
“(It’s) an important step towards justice and can lead to redress for the victims in general, but it remains limited and symbolic if it is not supported by all means by all countries around the world,” commented Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim on the warrants against Israeli politicians.
European Union: ‘Binding’
“It is not a political decision,” stated EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell during a visit to Jordan.
“It is a decision of a court, of a court of justice, of an international court of justice. And the decision of the court has to be respected and implemented.”
“This arrest warrant against Mr Deif is massively significant,” commented Yael Vias Gvirsman, representing 300 Israeli victims of the October 7 Hamas attacks.
“It means these victims’ voices are being heard,” she added, speaking from outside the court in The Hague.
The Palestinian Authority, a rival of Hamas, expressed that “the ICC’s decision represents hope and confidence in international law and its institutions”.
It urged ICC members to enforce “a policy of severing contact and meetings’ with Netanyahu and Gallant.
Amnesty International: ‘Wanted man’
“Prime Minister Netanyahu is now officially a wanted man,” stated Amnesty’s Secretary General Agnes Callamard.
“ICC member states and the whole international community must stop at nothing until these individuals are brought to trial before the ICC’s independent and impartial judges.”
“The ICC arrest warrants against senior Israeli leaders and a Hamas official break through the perception that certain individuals are beyond the reach of the law.”
Turkey: ‘Positive decision’
The ICC’s decision “is a belated but positive decision to stop the bloodshed and put an end to the genocide in Palestine,” remarked Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan welcomed the warrants as “an extremely important step”.
Italy: ‘Will evaluate’ –
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto stated that his country would be obligated to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they visited, although he believed the ICC was “wrong” to equate Netanyahu with Hamas.
Spain: ‘Respects the decision’ –
Spain announced that it would abide by the ruling, with official sources informing AFP that the country “respects the decision and will conform to its commitments and obligations in compliance with the Rome Statute and international law”.
Norway: ‘Confidence’
“It is important that the ICC carries out its mandate in a judicious manner. I have confidence that the court will proceed with the case based on the highest fair trial standards,” stated Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.
Sweden: ‘Independence and integrity’
“Sweden and the EU support the important work of the court and safeguard its independence and integrity,” commented Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard.
Belgium: ‘Fight against impunity’
“The fight against impunity wherever crimes are committed is a priority for Belgium, which fully supports the work of the (ICC)”, as stated by Belgium’s foreign ministry. “Those responsible for crimes committed in Israel and Gaza must be prosecuted at the highest level, regardless of who committed them.”
Published – November 22, 2024 08:26 am IST
