Location: Nicosia, Cyprus
EU’s Stance on ICC Warrants
European Union governments cannot choose whether to implement arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli leaders, according to Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief. The ICC warrants were issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al Masri on charges of crimes against humanity. As signatories of the Rome Statute, all EU member states are obliged to enforce the court’s decisions.
Hungary’s Response and Borrell’s Remarks
While several EU states have affirmed their commitment to the ICC’s mandates, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has invited Netanyahu to visit Hungary, assuring him that no risks would be faced. Borrell emphasized that all signatory countries, including those aspiring to join the EU, are legally bound to act on the ICC’s orders. He added that it would be contradictory for new EU members to uphold the obligations while current members did not.
Criticism of ICC’s Decision
The ICC’s decision to issue warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif is based on accusations of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during Israel’s Gaza campaign. Borrell defended the right to criticize Israeli policies without being accused of antisemitism. He also criticized claims that opposition to Israeli government actions equates to antisemitism, calling it unacceptable.
Turkish Support for ICC Warrants
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has praised the ICC’s decision to seek the arrest of Netanyahu and Gallant. Erdogan, who has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, urged Western nations to honor their commitments to justice and human rights. He stressed the importance of ensuring the enforcement of the arrest warrants by all parties involved, in order to restore trust in the international legal system.
Israel’s Gaza Campaign and ICC Warrants
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in significant Palestinian casualties, including over 44,000 deaths and widespread displacement, has drawn intense international scrutiny. The ICC issued the warrants based on evidence suggesting that Netanyahu and Gallant were responsible for actions such as murder, persecution, and using starvation as a weapon of war during the conflict. Israel maintains that Hamas leader Masri has been killed, but the ICC has yet to confirm this.
