Arab countries, organizations and movements welcomed the International Criminal Court’s issuance of two arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Galant, while the matter witnessed a European discrepancy between judicial commitment and political sensitivity.
According to the decision of the court, which does not have police personnel to implement it, its member states became legally obligated to implement the order issued yesterday, Thursday, to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they entered its territory, and hand them over to the International Criminal Court to take legal measures against them, on charges related to “committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.” During the ongoing war of extermination on the Gaza Strip.
Italy: There is no equality between Israel and Hamas
For her part, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni commented on Friday on the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court, saying that there cannot be parity between the responsibilities of Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Meloni added in a statement: “Over the next few days, I will examine the motives that led to the issuance of the International Criminal Court’s decision. The motives should always be objective and not political.”
She continued: “There is one constant point for this government: there cannot be parity between the responsibilities of the State of Israel and the terrorist Hamas movement,” she said.
Meloni also announced that the G7 foreign ministers will discuss during their meeting Monday and Tuesday near Rome the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court.
She said in a statement, “The Italian presidency of the G7 intends to include this issue on the agenda of the next ministerial meeting, which will be held in Fiuggi between 25 and 26 November.”
Britain: We can arrest Netanyahu
The British government hinted on Friday that Netanyahu could be arrested under an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court if he travels to the United Kingdom.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesman told reporters: “There is a clear legal mechanism that must be followed. The government has always been clear that it will fulfill its legal obligations.”
He added: “The United Kingdom will always fulfill its legal obligations as stipulated in domestic and international law,” but he refused to express a specific opinion regarding the Israeli Prime Minister.
Germany: It is difficult to arrest Israelis
In the same context, German government spokesman Steffen Heibstreit said on Friday that the government will carefully study the two arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Netanyahu and Gallant, but will not take further steps until there is actually a visit to Germany.
“I find it difficult to imagine that we would make arrests on this basis,” Hepstrait added, noting that it was necessary to clarify the legal issues related to the two arrest warrants.
He also said that the German government’s position on handing over weapons to Israel has not changed after the issuance of the two arrest warrants and is still subject to evaluation on a case-by-case basis.
Lebanon: An important decision
In a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, today, Friday, Lebanon welcomed this “important judicial decision,” stressing that it “restores respect to international legitimacy and the concept of justice and international laws, especially international humanitarian law, and provides an umbrella of trust and security for peoples around the world, with the presence of effective and credible international institutions and courts.” “.
The Foreign Ministry added that the decision “constitutes an essential step towards achieving justice and a clear condemnation of the crimes committed by Israel against civilians. It also proves that the time of escaping accountability and punishment for crimes has passed.”
Algeria: an important step
In turn, Algeria welcomed, in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, yesterday, Thursday, the court’s decision and considered it “an important step and tangible progress towards ending decades of impunity and the Israeli occupier’s impunity from accountability, accountability and punishment.”
The Ministry called on the members of the international community, “particularly the member states of the International Criminal Court, to take the required and necessary measures for the purpose of implementing the two arrest warrants and enabling international justice to take its course.”
Iraq: a historic decision
For its part, the Iraqi government, on Thursday, described the International Criminal Court’s decision as “historic, just, and fair to the victims of the Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.”
The government spokesman, Al-Awadi, said in a statement: “The Iraqi government appreciates the courageous and just stance taken by the International Criminal Court against Netanyahu and Gallant.”
He added, “This historic decision confirms that no matter how far injustice persists and tries to continue, justice and truth will stand up to it and prevent it from ruling the world.”
Al-Awadi also considered the decision “justice for the blood of the innocents and martyrs who rose during the criminal war (genocide), which the Zionist entity has been waging for more than a year against Gaza and Lebanon.”
Jordan: No to selectivity
In this context, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al-Safadi said, “These decisions must be respected and implemented. The Palestinian people deserve justice, and legal institutions exist to hold them accountable.”
He added in statements yesterday, Thursday, “The international community cannot be selective in accepting decisions and rejecting others, and must face with all responsibility what it has done.”
Al-Safadi pointed out that “the decision must be a message to the international community to take practical steps to stop the massacres in Gaza.”
Organization of Islamic Cooperation: Ending impunity
At the level of organizations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation welcomed the ICC’s decision and considered “this important step that contributes to ending the state of impunity that the Israeli occupation has enjoyed for decades.”
The organization indicated in a statement yesterday, Thursday, that “this decision constitutes a victory for international legitimacy,” stressing “the necessity of its respect and implementation by the entire international community.”
Arab League: There is no peace without justice
For his part, Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, said, “I applaud the decision of the International Criminal Court regarding the arrest of the prime minister of the occupation government and his defense minister.”
He emphasized in a post on his official account on the X platform that justice is the true way to achieve peace, and that without it it will not be achieved.
Aboul Gheit considered that “the international welcome for this step reflects a strong international rejection of the ongoing Israeli war crimes and a desire to stop them in any way.”
Last May 20, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, requested the issuance of two arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant for their responsibility for “war crimes and crimes against humanity” committed by the Israeli army in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
Last August, Khan also asked the court to quickly issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.
With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving more than 148,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 10,000 missing, amid massive destruction and famine that killed dozens of children and the elderly, in one The worst humanitarian disasters in the world.
Israel continues its massacres, ignoring the UN Security Council resolution to end them immediately, and the orders of the International Court of Justice to take measures to prevent acts of genocide and improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.
