Israel has informed the International Criminal Court that they will appeal against arrest warrants issued for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant regarding their actions in the war in Gaza. Netanyahu’s office stated that Israel has urged the court to suspend the warrants while the appeal is pending. The court had issued the warrants based on allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare in Gaza.
France has expressed belief that the Israeli officials have immunity from the warrants, citing that Israel is not a member of the ICC. This stance from France has been criticized by rights groups, with suggestions that it was made to maintain a working relationship with Netanyahu and the Israeli government. Other countries, such as Italy, have also questioned the legality of the warrants and whether high state officials have immunity from arrest.
The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs stated that France intends to continue working closely with Netanyahu and other Israeli authorities to achieve peace and security in the Middle East. However, rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have called France’s position deeply problematic and emphasized the legal duty to carry out arrest warrants under the Rome Statute.
Netanyahu has expressed that he would not go to a country where he could be arrested, suggesting that the arrest of Netanyahu is unfeasible as long as he remains prime minister. France, along with the United States, had helped broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, indicating ongoing efforts to end fighting in the Middle East.
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