Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, and other nations have indicated plans to comply with the International Criminal Court’s arrest orders for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
The ICC issued the warrants on Thursday, accusing both men of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the current conflict in Gaza.
The charges brought before the court include allegations of starvation, murder, persecution, and other inhumane crimes.
The conflict occurred after Hamas launched a cross-border offensive on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in severe casualties.
More than 44,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children, have been slain, and Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced, with many relying on humanitarian aid.
This was the first time a sitting leader from a major Western country had been charged with war crimes by an international tribunal.
While the warrants also target Hamas’ military chief, Mohammed Deif, the arrest demands for Netanyahu and Gallant have received widespread attention because of their political prominence.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said that if Netanyahu entered the country, Italy would be obligated to detain him.
Crosetto stressed that, while he disagreed with associating Israeli leaders with Hamas, Italy, as an ICC member, was legally obligated to follow the court’s directions.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani supported Crosetto’s viewpoint, emphasising that the ICC’s mission must be absolutely legal and not political.
Tajani also stated that Italy would speak with its partners about how to best proceed in light of the warrants.
The Netherlands likewise committed to complete conformity with the ICC.
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp claimed that Netanyahu would be arrested if he visited Dutch territory.
Veldkamp emphasised that the Netherlands, as a member of the European Union, was committed to maintaining the ideals laid out in the Rome Statute, the ICC’s legal foundation.
“We won’t engage in non-essential contacts, and we will act on the arrest warrants. We fully comply with the Rome Statute of the ICC,” he added.
Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy leader, weighed in, defining the arrest warrants as legal and binding rather than political.
Borrell insisted that all EU member states follow the court’s order, calling a halt to the violence in Gaza and emphasising the necessity of honouring the ICC’s decisions.
He said, “This decision is a binding decision, and all states, all state parties of the court, which include all members of the European Union, are binding to implement this court decision.”
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau affirmed that the arrest warrants would be enforced.
Canada, a founding member of the ICC, has long advocated for international law.
Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to justice, calling for an early cease-fire in Gaza, the release of hostages, and more humanitarian help to the region.
“It’s really important that everyone abide by international law,” Trudeau said, adding Canada would abide by rulings of international courts.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims praised Trudeau’s stance, describing it as a big step towards justice in Gaza and Palestine.
Jordan Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the ICC’s decision must be respected and implemented. “Palestinians deserve justice,” he said.
