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ICC arrest warrants could have immediate consequences – Israel News

Posted on by L. Dreeye
ICC arrest warrants could have immediate consequences – Israel News

Reports of arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant dominated international media headlines within minutes, especially in Europe.

Almost all of them posted a photo of Netanyahu under a headline saying that the ICC had issued an arrest warrant for the Israeli prime minister. Some were scrupulous enough to report that an arrest warrant had also been issued for Hamas leader Mohammed Deif, whom Israel declared dead, although this was not certain.

The ICC decision provides a significant boost to those who argue that Israel is committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip and who have called for a severance of diplomatic ties with it, a suspension of arms sales to it and a boycott of the country.

The ICC, which has in the past issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin, former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and other African leaders, is effectively giving its official stamp of approval at the highest level. The stipulation that we were talking about “credible grounds” for suspicion evaporated.

Several European countries, including Britain and Germany, have said in the past that they would respect the decision of pre-trial chamber judges if they issued arrest warrants.

Entrance to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague (photo: REUTERS)

The Netherlands and France announced today that they too will do the same. The consequence of this is that Netanyahu and Gallant will not receive immunity from arrest in these countries if they visit them. This is the first time the leaders of a democratic country have faced an arrest warrant issued by the 123-nation court.

Immediate Consequences

This decision is likely to have several immediate consequences. First, the two Israeli politicians will be limited in their ability to travel to countries that signed the Rome Statute that established the ICC.

One hundred and twenty-three countries signed the statute; The US and Israel are not among them, but countries that are could prevent the two men from flying through their airspace.

Germany, which has expressed criticism of the arrest warrant application, saying the court lacks jurisdiction because Israel has not signed the Rome Statute, has made clear in the past that it will respect the court’s decisions.

Perhaps the more far-reaching consequences will be the difficulty of exporting weapons to Israel due to fears (which have now received high-level legal support) that they will be used to commit war crimes.

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Germany, which supplies 30% of Israel’s military equipment, is one of the few countries that has not yet imposed an arms embargo on Israel.

According to German press reports, Israel gave Germany a written undertaking that German weapons would not be used in activities that violate international law. organizations are going to court over this issue, as they have done in the past.

In Britain, where there has been an ongoing legal campaign against arms exports to Israel, the decision will strengthen those who oppose the government’s decision to deny only a few dozen export licenses and, among other things, continue to allow exports. parts for F-35 aircraft.

The current government has made a significant change of direction from the previous Conservative government and abandoned British opposition on the issue of arrest warrants.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has attended war crimes hearings related to the former Yugoslavia in the past, said international law, which the court enforces, is the most important principle for Britain.

Other European countries such as Hungary have said in the past that they would consider withdrawing from the ICC if it issues arrest warrants for senior Israelis. In May, Hungary even announced that it would not execute arrest warrants if Netanyahu or Gallant visited the country.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that although Hungary had signed the Rome Statute, it had not ratified the provisions of the statute as part of its constitution. Some two hours after the trial was announced, there is still no official reaction in most European capitals.