World reacts to ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu

 

The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, former Minister of Defence, Yoav Gallant, and the late Hamas leader, Mohammed Deif, has been met with mixed views globally.

The historic decision has ended months of suspense as the word has been waiting to see whether the court would approve the prosecutors’ request to charge the trio for the 13-month-old war that has claimed thousands of lives and left many others either injured or/and displaced.

ICC judges believe that there are reasonable grounds for the court to prosecute the three for war crimes and crimes against humanity as the conflict in the Middle East escalates.

Netanyahu has rejected the ICC’s move as unfounded and baseless.

He says Israel won’t recognise the validity of the decision.

While some world leaders have condemned the historic decision, other governments like South Africa have welcomed it.

Israel’s strongest military and diplomatic backer, the US, is predictably unhappy.

US President, Joe Biden, has rejected the bid as outrageous.

“The ICC issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous. 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.”

The White House says it is working with Israel on a response to the ICC arrest warrants for PM Netanyahu and ex-Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. A spokesperson added that the US Biden administration disputes the idea that the court has jurisdiction. pic.twitter.com/8l3yg4agiW

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) November 21, 2024

Argentina President, Javier Milei, also took to X, expressing his disagreement with the decision.

Declaración de la República Argentina en defensa de Israel

La República Argentina manifiesta su profundo desacuerdo con la reciente decisión de la Corte Penal Internacional (CPI) de emitir órdenes de arresto contra el Primer Ministro de Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, y el…

— Javier Milei (@JMilei) November 21, 2024

Hungary Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, also condemned the ICC decision, calling it “shameful and absurd.”

❗️FM Szijjártó strongly criticized the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant issued against @netanyahu and @yoavgallant, calling it “shameful and absurd.” Speaking after a phone call with Israel’s Foreign Minister @gidonsaar, FM Szijjártó reaffirmed Hungary’s rejection of… pic.twitter.com/GuOfUpmYE1

— Zoltan Kovacs (@zoltanspox) November 21, 2024

The Hungarian Foreign Minister, Péter Szijjártó today labelled the ICC decision as shameful and absurd.
He spoke on the phone with his colleague Gideon Sa’ar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel and assured him that Hungary rejects any institution of the international… https://t.co/62lV8iraQD

— Szabolcs Takács (@_SzabolcsTakacs) November 21, 2024

Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, says he will invite Netanyahu to visit and defy the ICC arrest warrant.

However, other countries say they will oblige to the decision.

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, says all EU countries are obligated to uphold the ICC’s decision.

I take note of the decision of the @IntlCrimCourt to issue arrest warrants for Israel PM Netanyahu, former Minister Gallant, and Hamas leader Deif.

These decisions are binding on all States party to the Rome Statute, which includes all EU Member States.

— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) November 21, 2024

The South African Department of International Relations (Dirco), through its spokesperson Chrispin Phiri, has hailed the move as the step that’s needed to ensure that justice is served.

The South African government welcomes the ICC’s recent warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant, and Mohammed Deif of Hamas.https://t.co/3FfDnkY5ef pic.twitter.com/csSRqc1nEz

— DIRCO South Africa (@DIRCO_ZA) November 21, 2024

The Palestinian Authority, which governs the occupied West Bank, said: “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.

Other countries that say they will oblige by the decision include Austria, Spain Belgium, Canada, France, Iran, Ireland, Jordan, The Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey.

All 124 members of the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, are now compelled to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant, who will most likely now restrict their travel to avoid being detained.

Organisations, such as Amnesty International, has also weighed in on the matter, describing the issuing of the arrest warrants as a ray of hope that the deadly war is possibly coming to an end.

Amnesty International South Africa Executive Director, Shenilla Mohamed, elaborates on the organisation’s stance in the audio clip below.

The Human Rights Watch says the warrants have changed the perception that certain individuals are beyond the reach of the law.

The International Criminal Court judges’ decision to issue arrest warrants against senior Israeli leaders and a Hamas official in the face of strong opposition – including from the United States and Israel – deserves international support.

Read more: https://t.co/ZLjKgHIDE2 pic.twitter.com/FzW1VDwL34

— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) November 21, 2024

US senator Bernie Sanders supported the warrants, saying all attacks against civilians caused unimaginable human suffering.

Last night, 19 Senators voted to end illegal arms sales to Israel.

We stood up to AIPAC, the Democratic Senate leadership, and the Biden administration.

We must continue going forward to end illegal arms sales and hold Netanyahu accountable for his war crimes.

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) November 21, 2024

Finally, the International Criminal Court has issued war crimes warrants of arrest against Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for Israel’s attack on Gaza. This triggers a major rule of law test for countries that previously rightly… pic.twitter.com/30lgYuRFTI

— Prof Thuli Madonsela #KindnessBuilds (@ThuliMadonsela3) November 22, 2024

“Nobody is above the law.” News today that the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu. In May I spoke to the @IntlCrimCourt Chief Prosecutor as he announced to the world that he would seek these warrants. He outlined to me the rationale behind the decision pic.twitter.com/3MKsEwxDut

— Christiane Amanpour (@amanpour) November 21, 2024

He should answer for his crimes in Gaza

— BLACK SHELBY🎩🇳🇬 (@kabathy1) November 22, 2024

100%. And those fall under competence and actually preferring the country over themselves. But neglectful or aimless policy is not what Netanyahu is accused of, the very fighting is the crime and was classified as such from the very beginning.

— Iddough 📟 🎗 (@CoIddough) November 22, 2024

💙 I stand with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a brilliant leader & a gentlemen. @IsraeliPM

— YAEL (@frenchmartini7) November 22, 2024

You are the worst antisemitic ever! You destried the possibility for the Jewish to live in peace. You will be remembered as an assassin of innocent children and women.

— Stefano Merico (@SMerico) November 22, 2024

The warrants come after the United States this week vetoed a UN Security Council resolution for a ceasefire in in the war-torn Middle East.

The 15-member council voted on a resolution put forward by its 10 non-permanent members, who called for an immediate ceasefire and for the release of hostages in the Israel-Hamas war.

Fourteen countries voted in favour of the resolution, which wasn’t adopted after the US voted otherwise.

US Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, below explains why Washington voted against the ceasefire.