Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, and other countries have announced their intention to comply with arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The warrants, issued by the ICC on Thursday, accuse both men of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the ongoing war in Gaza.
The court’s charges include allegations of starvation, murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.
The conflict, which erupted after Hamas launched a cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant loss of life.
More than 44,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children, have been killed, and Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been left largely displaced, with many depending on humanitarian aid.
This marked the first time that a sitting leader from a major Western country has been accused of war crimes by an international tribunal.
While the warrants also target the military chief of Hamas, Mohammed Deif, the arrest orders for Netanyahu and Gallant have attracted considerable attention due to their political positions.
In a statement on Thursday, Italian Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, confirmed that Italy would be obliged to arrest Netanyahu should he enter the country.
Crosetto emphasised that while he disagreed with equating the Israeli leaders with Hamas, Italy, as an ICC member, had a legal obligation to comply with the court’s directives.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani echoed Crosetto’s position, stressing that the role of the ICC must remain strictly legal and not political. Tajani also indicated that Italy would consult with its allies on how best to proceed in light of the warrants.
The Netherlands also pledged full compliance with the ICC.
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp stated that the country would arrest Netanyahu if he entered Dutch territory.
Veldkamp underscored that the Netherlands, as a member of the European Union, was committed to upholding the principles set out by the Rome Statute, the legal framework of the ICC.
“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.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell weighed in, describing the arrest warrants as legal and binding, not political.
Borrell stressed that all EU member states must adhere to the court’s ruling, urging an end to the violence in Gaza and highlighting the importance of respecting 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.”
In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that the country would enforce the arrest warrants.
Canada, a founding member of the ICC, has long been an advocate for international law.
Trudeau reiterated Canada’s commitment to justice and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as well as the release of hostages and increased humanitarian aid 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 commended Trudeau’s stance, calling it a significant step toward justice for Gaza and Palestine.
Jordan Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the ICC’s decision must be respected and implemented. “Palestinians deserve justice,” he said.