Israel’s Guilt Being Investigated Worldwide: The Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu Splits the International Community
Cairo: Hani Kamal El-Din
The foreign ministers of the G7 countries will discuss the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) at their meeting, which begins on Monday in Rome. The court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The call to arrest them for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip has sparked a conflict within the camp of Western allies, dividing them into a pro-Israel group and supporters of implementing the ICC’s decision. The intensity of the situation is reflected in a statement by Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who threatened to impose sanctions on the second group and “crush their economies.”
The discussion was initiated by Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose country currently chairs the G7. The foreign ministers’ meeting will take place from November 25 to 26 in the cities of Anagni and Frosinone, located in the Lazio region near Rome.
Before the discussions within the G7 had even begun, Meloni stated that she considered it unacceptable to “equate the responsibility of the state of Israel with that of the terrorist organization Hamas.”
By doing so, she echoed the main argument of those opposing the implementation of the ICC’s decision.
However, conflicting statements from other Italian officials suggest that there is no unified opinion yet within the Italian leadership on how to respond to the ICC’s ruling. The ruling accuses Netanyahu and Gallant of war crimes and crimes against humanity, allegedly committed from October 8, 2023, to May 20, 2024, in Palestinian territories.
The most vocal critic of the ICC’s decision is Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure, Matteo Salvini. “Israel is defending not only itself but also freedoms, democracy, and Western values. Benjamin Netanyahu, whom they call a war criminal, is the Prime Minister of one of the few democratic countries in the Middle East,” Salvini said. “I hope to meet soon with representatives of the Israeli government, and if Netanyahu comes to Italy, we would be happy to host him.” Meanwhile, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto called the ICC decision erroneous but emphasized that if Israeli officials were to visit, they would still have to be arrested.
At least four G7 countries — the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Canada — do not share the view that the ICC’s ruling can be ignored.
“The United Kingdom will always adhere to its legal obligations as prescribed in national and international law,” stated the office of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. They warned that if Netanyahu sets foot on British soil, he would be arrested.
Similar statements were made in Berlin and Paris. “Germany will take steps based on the ICC’s arrest warrants if Netanyahu and Gallant enter the country,” said German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit. The German government actively supports the ICC. The French Foreign Ministry indicated that France “has taken note” of the ICC warrants, calling it “not a verdict but a formalization of charges.” “Regarding the situation in Gaza, France has consistently called for strict adherence to international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, which is an imperative for all parties and condemned violations,” the French ministry stated.
Meanwhile, the United States remains the main force within the G7 and the entire Western bloc that unconditionally supports Israel and condemns the ICC.
Commenting on the scandal, President Joe Biden called the ICC decision “outrageous.” “Let me clarify once again: whatever the ICC implies, Israel and Hamas are not equal,” the statement read. “The United States will always support Israel in the face of threats to its security.”
The Impact of the ICC Arrest Warrant on Prime Minister Netanyahu
The ICC’s decision has divided not only the G7 but also the European Union. The call by European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders for EU members to support the ICC’s decision has not unified the EU ranks. One of the most implacable European opponents of the ICC’s ruling is Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. “Today, I will invite Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to visit Hungary, and in the invitation, I will guarantee that if he comes, the ICC’s warrant will not be enforced in Hungary,” Orbán warned. A similar tone was expressed by Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský. Meanwhile, among the Eastern European EU members, Poland and Slovenia were the first to declare their readiness to comply with the ICC’s requirements.
The intensity of the emotions within the Euro-Atlantic community is reflected in the statement by U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who threatened to impose sanctions on Western allies of the U.S. if they “try to assist” the ICC.
Speaking on Fox News, when asked what kind of sanctions might be imposed, Lindsey Graham replied that the U.S. would have to “crush the economy” of any state that follows the ICC’s lead.
