France has now joined Argentina and Hungary in declaring that they will not honor the warrants issued by the International Criminal Court to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant. The warrants, issued earlier this month, accuse Netanyahu and Gallant of war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
The French foreign ministry stated that the warrants were invalid because Israel is not a party to the agreement establishing the court. They emphasized that the immunities of states not party to the ICC must be respected, including those of Netanyahu and other Israeli officials implicated in the warrants.
This announcement comes shortly after Netanyahu reached a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah in Lebanon, facilitated by France and the United States. Some speculate that France’s stance on the ICC warrants may have been influenced by this diplomatic development.
The statement from the French foreign ministry highlighted the longstanding friendship between France and Israel, emphasizing their commitment to the rule of law and cooperation for peace in the Middle East. This marks a significant shift from previous tensions between French President Emmanuel Macron and Netanyahu over arms sales to Israel during the Gaza conflict.
While some countries have pledged to enforce the warrants, including Canada, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, others like Britain and Germany have not yet taken a stance. The United States, a non-signatory to the Rome Statute, has condemned the warrants as “outrageous.”
In response to the warrants, Israel plans to appeal and request a delay in their implementation. Netanyahu’s office criticized the decision as baseless and lacking legal foundation. The ICC justifies its jurisdiction over non-signatory states based on the impact of alleged crimes on a party to the agreement, as seen in the case of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Overall, the situation surrounding the ICC warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant remains complex, with different countries taking varying positions on enforcement. Israel’s appeal and diplomatic efforts will likely continue as the legal process unfolds.
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