Following the issuance of arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, several countries have confirmed their commitment to enforce these warrants.
The ICC has accused these individuals of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which escalated following a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The conflict has resulted in over 44,000 deaths, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Despite the ICC's lack of enforcement mechanisms, member states are obligated to comply with its decisions. Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Lithuania, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Turkey, Jordan, Norway, and Sweden have all indicated their readiness to arrest Netanyahu if he enters their territories.
Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto emphasized that arresting Netanyahu is not a political choice but a legal obligation under the Rome Statute. Similarly, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated the importance of abiding by international law.
However, not all nations are willing to act on the ICC's warrants. France and Germany have adopted a cautious approach, with France acknowledging the ICC's decision without committing to an arrest, while Germany continues its support for Israel.
Hungary outright rejected the ICC's ruling, offering Netanyahu safe passage should he visit. The United States, a non-member of the ICC, has criticized the warrants, with President Joe Biden calling them "outrageous" and expressing unwavering support for Israel.
The ICC's decision has placed Netanyahu in a precarious position regarding international travel, as the threat of arrest looms over his potential visits to any of the ICC's 124 member states. This situation mirrors that of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who faced similar constraints after the ICC issued an arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
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