Israel has informed the International Criminal Court that it plans to appeal against arrest warrants issued for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity” in the Gaza conflict. The court accused the officials of using “starvation as a method of warfare” by limiting humanitarian aid to Gaza. Israel has denied the ICC’s authority and requested a suspension of the warrants pending the appeal.
France has stated that it believes Israeli officials have immunity from the court’s warrants since Israel is not a member of the ICC. The French stance has been criticized by rights groups, who argue that no one, regardless of their position, should be immune from an ICC arrest warrant.
Following a week of deliberation, France clarified its position, noting that the Rome Statute prevents a country from being required to act contrary to its obligations regarding the immunity of non-ICC states. The French Foreign Ministry expressed its intention to continue working with Netanyahu and other Israeli authorities to achieve peace in the Middle East, despite concerns raised by human rights organizations.
The legality of the ICC mandates has also been questioned by Italy, who called for clarity on whether high-ranking state officials have immunity from arrest warrants. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with many urging for the rule of law to be upheld and for accountability for alleged war crimes. France’s role in brokering the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire highlights the complexity and sensitivity of the situation in the Middle East.
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