Several nations, including Italy, the Netherlands, and Canada, have affirmed their plans to adhere to arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
The ICC issued the warrants on Thursday, charging both officials with war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The accusations from the court include claims of starvation, murder, persecution, and various other inhumane acts.
The hostilities began following Hamas’s cross-border assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, leading to numerous casualties. Over 44,000 Palestinians have died, with many being women and children, and the 2.3 million inhabitants of Gaza have been predominantly displaced, relying heavily on humanitarian assistance.
This situation marks the first instance where a sitting leader from a major Western nation has faced war crime accusations from an international court.
Although the warrants also include Hamas’s military chief, Mohammed Deif, the arrest orders for Netanyahu and Gallant have garnered substantial attention because of their official roles.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto confirmed on Thursday that Italy would be required to apprehend Netanyahu if he entered the country. He stressed that, despite his disagreement with comparing Israeli leaders to Hamas, Italy, as a member of the ICC, had a legal duty to follow the court’s orders.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani supported Crosetto’s stance, highlighting the need for the ICC’s role to remain strictly legal rather than political. Tajani also mentioned that Italy would consult its allies regarding the best way to move forward in light of the warrants.
The Netherlands also expressed its commitment to fully complying with the ICC. Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp stated that his country would detain Netanyahu if he set foot on Dutch soil. Veldkamp said that, as a member of the European Union, the Netherlands was committed to upholding the principles outlined in the Rome Statute, the ICC’s legal framework.
“We will avoid non-essential interactions and will act on the arrest warrants. Our compliance with the Rome Statute of the ICC is complete,” he remarked.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell commented on the matter, characterising the arrest warrants as legal obligations rather than political actions. Borrell stressed that all EU member states are required to comply with the court’s rulings, calling for an end to the violence in Gaza and underscoring the necessity of respecting the ICC’s decisions.
He stated, “This decision is binding, and all state parties to the court, which include all members of the European Union, must implement this court ruling.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the country would enforce the arrest warrants in Canada. As a founding member of the ICC, Canada has consistently supported international law. Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s dedication to justice, advocating for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, and increased humanitarian assistance to the affected region.
