Israel and its allies denounced the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue an arrest warrant Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even as Turkey — and rights groups – welcomed the move.
The court also issued warrants for Israel’s former defence minister as well as Hamas’s military chief Mohammed Deif.
They were issued in response to accusations of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza, set off by the militant Palestinian group’s October 7, 2023 attack.
Israel: New ‘Dreyfus trial’
“The anti-Semitic decision of the International Criminal Court is comparable to the modern-day Dreyfus trial — and it will end in the same way,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
He was referring to the 19th-century Alfred Dreyfus affair in which a Jewish army captain was wrongly convicted of treason in France before being exonerated.
US: ‘Fundamentally rejects’
The United States “fundamentally rejects” the ICC’s decision and “we remain deeply concerned by the prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision”, said a National Security Council spokesperson.
“The United States has been clear that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over this matter.”
Argentina: ‘Deep disagreement’
Argentina “declares its deep disagreement” with the decision, which “ignores Israel’s legitimate right to self-defence against the constant attacks by terrorist organisations like Hamas and Hezbollah,” President Javier Milei posted on X.
Hamas: ‘Justice’
“(It’s) an important step towards justice and can lead to redress for the victims in general, but it remains limited and symbolic if it is not supported by all means by all countries around the world,” Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim said of the warrants against Israeli politicians.
European Union: ‘Binding’
“It is not a political decision,” said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, speaking during a visit to Jordan.
“It is a decision of a court, of a court of justice, of an international court of justice. And the decision of the court has to be respected and implemented.”
Israeli victims: ‘Significant’
“This arrest warrant against Mr Deif is massively significant,” said Yael Vias Gvirsman, who represents 300 Israeli victims of the October 7 Hamas attacks.
“It means these victims’ voices are being heard,” she added, speaking from outside the court in The Hague.
Palestinian Authority: ‘Sign of hope’
The Palestinian Authority, a rival of Hamas, 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.
Amnesty International: ‘Wanted man’
“Prime Minister Netanyahu is now officially a wanted man,” said Amnesty’s Secretary General Agnes Callamard.
“ICC member states and the whole international community must stop at nothing until these individuals are brought to trial before the ICC’s independent and impartial judges.”
Human Rights Watch: not ‘beyond’ the law
“The ICC arrest warrants against senior Israeli leaders and a Hamas official break through the perception that certain individuals are beyond the reach of the law.”
Turkey: ‘Positive decision’
The ICC’s decision “is a belated but positive decision to stop the bloodshed and put an end to the genocide in Palestine,” Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said on X.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan welcomed the warrants as “an extremely important step”.
Italy: ‘Will evaluate’
“We support the ICC, while always remembering that the court must play a legal role and not a political role,” said Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
“We will evaluate together with our allies what to do and how to interpret this decision.”
Norway: ‘Confidence’
“It is important that the ICC carries out its mandate in a judicious manner. I have confidence that the court will proceed with the case based on the highest fair trial standards,” Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said.
Sweden: ‘Independence and integrity’
“Sweden and the EU support the important work of the court and safeguard its independence and integrity,” Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said.
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