The issuance of arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for top Israeli officials has sparked strong reactions, both inside Israel and in Europe.
Prosecutor Karim Khan on Monday filed applications for the Israeli prime minister’s arrest Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, as well as the commander of its military wing Hamas and his defense minister Israelciting charges of war crimes and crimes once morest humanity committed in Israel and the State of Palestine.
As “Politico” reports, its leaders Europe argue over the relevant decision. Some found her “disgusting and incomprehensible”, while others were quick to applaud her.
“The crimes committed in Gauze they must be prosecuted at the highest level, regardless of the perpetrators,” Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib wrote in a statement to X, emphasizing Belgium’s support for the ICC’s work.
Slovenia’s foreign ministry issued a statement in a similar vein, stating that war crimes and crimes once morest humanity committed on Israeli and Palestinian territory “must be prosecuted independently and impartially, regardless of the perpetrators.”
“Accountability is vital to preventing atrocities and guaranteeing peace,” the ministry wrote.
The French Foreign Ministry said it had been “warning for many months regarding the imperative of strict compliance with international humanitarian law and in particular regarding the unacceptable nature of civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip and insufficient humanitarian access,” adding: France supports the International Criminal Court, its independence and the fight once morest impunity in all situations.
Other EU leaders viewed the decision less favorably.
“The ICC chief prosecutor’s proposal to issue an arrest warrant for the representatives of a democratically elected government together with the leaders of an Islamist terrorist organization is abhorrent and completely unacceptable,” Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala wrote.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Neuhammer expressed similar reservations. “We fully respect the independence of the ICC,” he wrote. “The fact, however, that the leader of the terrorist organization Hamas, whose declared goal is the disappearance of the state of Israel, is mentioned at the same time as the democratically elected representatives of that same state is incomprehensible.”
In London, the UK government distanced itself from the ICC move. “This action does nothing to bring regarding a pause in the fighting, get the hostages out or humanitarian aid in and make progress towards a sustainable ceasefire that we want to see,” Prime Minister’s spokesman Rishi Sunak said.
Across the Atlantic, US President Joe Biden called the ICC’s request for arrest warrants once morest Israeli leaders “outrageous”.
Unlike all member countries of the European Union, the US is not a full member of the ICC.
Crimes committed in Gaza must be prosecuted at the highest level, regardless of the perpetrators.
Statement 🇧🇪⬇️ pic.twitter.com/I3SBRSbOkW
— Hadja Lahbib (@hadjalahbib) May 20, 2024
The German statement said the country respected the court, hailing its creation as a fundamental achievement of the international community, but added: “The simultaneous request for arrest warrants once morest Hamas leaders on the one hand and two Israeli officials from the other gave the false impression of an equation.”
The statement then lists the crimes committed by Hamas and expresses its support for Israel’s right to self-defense.
What’s next
Requests for arrest warrants will now be assessed by the pre-trial chamber of the International Criminal Court.
“Let us be clear on one key issue: if we do not demonstrate our will to apply the law equally, if it is seen to be applied selectively, we will create the conditions for its collapse,” Attorney General Khan said in a statement on Monday.
According to Professor Zinaida Miller, an international law expert at Northeastern University, the ICC’s decision to apply for the arrest warrants indicates a degree of certainty that the applications will succeed.
“The District Attorney would not apply for warrants at this stage unless he was confident in what he has determined so far,” she told Politico.
At the same time, according to newsbeast, the focus of the allegations on individual officials means there will be “limited ability to address the broader context of these crimes, other than in ways directly related to the criminal process,” he said.
“But the limited nature of the process is worth watching, even when we see the historical significance of the requests, especially as far as Israeli officials are concerned,” he concluded.
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