The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, considered this Thursday as “logical” the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and assured that “its ruling must be followed.”
“This is logical. Netanyahu is a genocidaire. The world’s court of justice says so and its ruling must be followed,” the Colombian president wrote on his X account.
Petro, a strong defender of the Palestinian cause, added that the president of the United States, Joe Biden, has the responsibility to recognize that order.
“If Biden ignores this order, he will simply lead the world into barbarism. Western Europe must regain its independence in international politics and act to comply with the court order,” he added.
The measure
The ICC Pretrial Chamber approved this Thursday the arrest warrants requested on May 20 by the chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, against Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as against a Hamas leader.
However, in his reaction Petro referred only to the order against Netanyahu, whom he has called “genocidal” on numerous occasions.
The order against Netanyahu and Gallant is as criminally responsible and co-perpetrators of war crimes since at least October 8, 2023, including “the use of starvation as a method of war and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts.” “committed in the Gaza Strip.
In the case of Hamas, Khan’s indictment includes six war crimes, such as hostage-taking and acts of sexual violence, and five crimes against humanity, including extermination and murder committed during the October 7, 2023 attacks.
Breakdown of relationships
In fact, Colombia announced the severance of relations with Israel that became effective on May 2 due to its opposition to that country’s actions in “the war that has been waged in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023.”
Furthermore, the Colombian Government has on several occasions called for a ceasefire, for the release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas and for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, while urging Israel to respect International Humanitarian Law (IHL). .
Bogotá / EFE
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What are the main arguments for and against the ICC arrest warrant issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?
## Netanyahu Arrest Warrant: A Timely Discussion
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Joining us today is Dr. Elena Garcia, professor of International Relations at Georgetown University, to discuss the recent arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Dr. Garcia, welcome to the programme.
**Dr. Garcia:** Thanks for having me.
**Host:** Colombian President Gustavo Petro has been very vocal in his support of the warrant, calling it “logical” and urging US President Joe Biden to recognize the ICC’s ruling. What are your thoughts on this strong stance from President Petro?
**Dr. Garcia:** President Petro’s position reflects his longstanding support for the Palestinian cause. He has been a vocal critic of Israeli policies in the West Bank and Gaza, and this arrest warrant seems to align with his views. It’s important to note that while the ICC issued the warrant, its enforcement is complex, particularly regarding a sitting head of state.
**Host:** Exactly. The ICC warrant against Netanyahu is controversial and has sparked a lot of debate. What are the main arguments for and against the warrant?
**Dr. Garcia:** Supporters of the warrant argue that it’s a vital step in holding accountable individuals accused of war crimes, regardless of their position. They point to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and accusations of disproportionate use of force as justification. Opponents argue that the ICC is overstepping its bounds by targeting a sitting head of state of a key US ally and that the warrant could further inflame tensions in the region.
**Host:** President Petro explicitly called Netanyahu a “genocidaire.” How significant is this kind of language in the context of this international dispute?
**Dr. Garcia:** Such language is extremely inflammatory and can be counterproductive. While Petro’s personal views are clear, using such strong terms can make finding a peaceful resolution more difficult. It can also further polarize the debate and make dialog between the involved parties even more challenging.
**Host:** We’ve seen a strong reaction from Netanyahu himself, even engaging in a public exchange of insults with President Petro [[1](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-11/benjamin-netanyahu-trades-insults-with-colombia-president-over-gaza-war)]. Do you think this back-and-forth helps or hinders the prospects for peace?
**Dr. Garcia:** Clearly, this exchange demonstrates the high tensions surrounding this issue.
It’s unlikely that such public confrontations will contribute to a peaceful solution. Diplomacy and measured language are crucial when dealing with such sensitive and complex situations.
**Host:** Thank you forproviding your insights, Dr. Garcia.
**Dr. Garcia:** My pleasure.