Netanyahu’s arrest warrant divides world leaders – Diario La Página –

Israel and its allies denounced the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, while the European Union, Turkey, Colombia, Jordan and South Africa together with human rights groups They have been the first to react publicly in favor of the measure.

The arrest warrant against Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza has had the expected dissent from its unconditional partner, the United States, and other countries close to Israel.

The Court also issued an arrest warrant against Mohammed Deif, the military chief of Hamas, a group considered terrorist by the EU and other countries.

They were issued in response to accusations of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Israel’s conflict against Hamas in Gaza, triggered by the October 7, 2023 attack.

Borrel asks for respect for the court’s decision
The high representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, declared this Thursday that the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) must be “respected and applied”, and stressed that It is a court decision and not a political decision.

“It is not a political decision, it is a decision of an international court of Justice, and the court’s decision has to be respected and applied,” said Borrell, asked about the ICC decision in a joint press conference with the Foreign Minister. Jordanian, Ayman Safadi, in Amman.

“I take note of the decision of the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants against Prime Minister (Israeli, Benjamin) Netanyahu, former Minister of Defense (Yoav) Gallant and the leaders of Hamas,” he added in his speech.

The head of European diplomacy said that this decision is “a scathing decision for all States, all States party to the Court, including all members of the European Union, to bind and apply this judicial decision.” .

France, through the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, stressed its support for “the action of the Court’s prosecutor, who acts with total independence,” although when asked if the French authorities would arrest Netanyahu if he entered French soil, he avoided commit.

«It is a legally complex issue. I will not make any further comments today. “It is a situation that must be treated with many precautions,” the source said.

The ICC does not have a police force to arrest suspects, but its 125 member states, including the United Kingdom and European Union countries, have an obligation to cooperate. The United States and Israel are not part of this court.

Netherlands and Italy ready to arrest Netanyahu
The Dutch Foreign Minister, the conservative liberal Caspar Veldkamp, ​​did not mince words and assured that if Netanyahu “steps on Dutch soil, he will be arrested.”

Similarly, the Italian Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, said that his country would be forced to comply with the arrest warrant issued by the ICC against Netanyahu “if he reached its territory.”

Crosetto, whose country is a member of the EU, NATO and currently presides over the G7 of the largest Western powers, considered that the ICC “was wrong” to put the Israeli leaders and Hamas leaders on the same level.

But even so, “if Netanyahu or Gallant came to Italy, we would have to arrest them, we would have to detain them, in application of international law,” he added, in statements on the RAI television program Porta a Porta.

Foreign Minister Antonio Trajani had previously noted that Italy “supports the ICC”, but that it “must have a legal and not a political role.” “We will evaluate with our allies how to react and interpret this decision,” he added.

The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, for his part, did not hesitate to describe Netanyahu as “genocidal” and also urged compliance with the ICC ruling.

Beyond the position of the Governments, organizations such as Human Rights Watch (HRW) celebrated the decision.

“The ICC order demolishes the perception that certain individuals are above the law (and) this is even more important given the blatant attempts to obstruct the course of justice in the court,” said the director of international justice in HRW, Balkees Jarrah.

The United States, Israel’s unwavering partner
Washington, which on Wednesday did not hesitate to use its veto right in the UN Security Council for the fourth time in favor of Israel, to prevent the imposition of a ceasefire in Gaza as defended by the other 14 members of the highest body of The UN has once again sided with Israel, showing its direct rejection of the arrest order.

“The United States fundamentally rejects the Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants against senior Israeli officials,” a White House spokesperson told the EFE agency.

Along with the United States, Hungary, Paraguay and Argentina have also raised their voices in favor of those suspected of perpetrating war crimes and have criticized the ICC.

The Argentine president, Javier Milei, also expressed his “deep disagreement” and considered that this measure “ignores Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself.”

Australia supports ICC independence
The Australian Government expressed this Friday that it supports the independence of the ICC.

“Australia respects the independence of the ICC and its important role in upholding international law. “We have made it clear that all parties to the conflict must comply with international humanitarian law,” Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a message on X.

Wong also insisted in his message on the protection of civilians, the release of hostages, the protection of aid workers and the need for humanitarian aid to arrive “quickly, safely and without obstacles” in Gaza, without directly commenting on these arrest warrants issued the day before.