Israel has submitted an appeal to the International Criminal Court to challenge arrest warrants issued for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over their actions in the war on Gaza. The court had found reasonable grounds to believe that the officials were responsible for using starvation as a method of warfare in Gaza. Netanyahu’s office stated that Israel denies the authority of the ICC and has requested the suspension of the warrants pending the appeal.
France has expressed the belief that the Israeli officials have immunity from the arrest warrants as Israel is not a member of the court. This stance has been criticized by rights groups, with Amnesty International calling it deeply problematic. Other countries, like Italy, have also raised doubts about the legality of the mandates and the issue of immunity for high state officials.
This development comes after France initially indicated it would adhere to the ICC statutes but later refined its position, noting that the court’s decision formalized an accusation and that immunities of states not party to the ICC must be considered. The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs stated that it intends to continue working closely with Netanyahu and other Israeli authorities to achieve peace and security in the Middle East.
Many have expressed concern over the potential immunity granted to high-ranking officials like Netanyahu, with rights groups urging countries to uphold their legal obligations under the Rome Statute. Italy’s Foreign Minister also questioned the feasibility of Netanyahu’s arrest while he remains in office. France’s involvement in brokering the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire has been seen as an attempt to maintain working relationships with Israeli authorities.
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