The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged “war crimes”.
The court said on Thursday that there were “reasonable grounds” to believe Netanyahu and Gallant “intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival”.
The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif for alleged “crimes against humanity and war crimes”. Israel said in August that Deif was killed in an air strike in southern Gaza the previous month.
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan first applied for the warrants six months ago. In August, Khan called on the court to make a decision, saying, “Any unjustified delay in these proceedings detrimentally affects the rights of victims.”
Since the decision was announced, Israeli officials have slammed the warrants, with Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev referring to them as “modern anti-Semitism in the guise of justice”.
And here’s how countries around the world have reacted:
Belgium
“The fight against impunity wherever crimes are committed is a priority for Belgium, which fully supports the work of the [ICC]”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on X.
“Those responsible for crimes committed in Israel and Gaza must be prosecuted at the highest level, regardless of who committed them.”
Canada
“It’s really important that everyone abide by international law,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, adding Canada would abide by rulings of international courts.
European Union
Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the ICC warrants were not political and should be respected and implemented.
“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,” he said.
France
France would act “in line with the ICC’s statutes”, said Christophe Lemoine, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
However, he declined to say whether France would arrest Netanyahu if he came to the country, saying it was “legally complex”.
Germany
A government spokesperson says Germany will “carefully examine” the ICC’s arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, but will not take further steps until a visit to the country.
“The Federal Government was involved in the drafting of the ICC Statute and is one of the ICC’s biggest supporters. This position is also a result of German history,” the spokesperson said.
“At the same time, a consequence of German history is that we have a unique relationship and a great responsibility to Israel.”
Hungary
Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto condemned the ICC decision, calling it “shameful and absurd”, presidential spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs reported on X.
“This decision disgraces the international judiciary by equating leaders of a country attacked by a heinous terror attack with the leaders of the terrorist organization responsible,” Szijjarto said, adding, “Such a decision is unacceptable.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said he would invite Netanyahu to visit and defy the ICC arrest warrant.
Orban called the ICC’s decision “outrageously brazen and “cynical”, saying it “intervenes in an ongoing conflict … dressed up as a legal decision, but in fact for political purposes”.
Iran
The head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant as the “end and political death” of Israel, calling it a “regime that today lives in absolute political isolation in the world and its officials can no longer travel to other countries”.
Ireland
Prime Minister Simon Harris said the warrants “an extremely significant step”.
He added that Ireland respects the ICC’s role and that anyone in a position to assist it in carrying out its vital work must do so “with urgency.”
Italy
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Rome would consider with allies how to interpret the decision and act together. “We support the ICC … the court must play a legal role and not a political role,” he added.
Jordan
Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the ICC’s decision must be respected and implemented. “Palestinians deserve justice,” he said.
The Netherlands
Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said that his country “respects the independence 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.
Norway
Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said, “It is important that the ICC carries out its mandate in a judicious manner. I have confidence that the court will proceed with the case based on the highest fair trial standards.”
South Africa
In a statement, the government welcomed the ICC decision and said it marked a “significant step towards justice for crimes against humanity and war crimes in Palestine”.
“South Africa reaffirms its commitment to international law and urges all state parties to act in accordance with their obligations in the Rome Statute,” it said.
“We call on the global community to uphold the rule of law and ensure accountability for human rights violations.”
Sweden
Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said Sweden and the EU “support the court’s important work and protect its independence and integrity”. Swedish law enforcement authorities decide on the arrest of subjects of ICC warrants on Swedish territory, she added.
Switzerland
The Swiss Federal Office of Justice said it is obliged to cooperate with the ICC under the Rome Statute and would therefore have to arrest Netanyahu, Gallant or Masri if they entered Switzerland and initiate extradition to the court.
Turkiye
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the ICC arrest warrant was a “hopeful” and crucial step in bringing to justice Israeli authorities who committed “genocide” against Palestinians.
“We will continue to work to ensure that international law is implemented to punish genocide,” Fidan added.
United Kingdom
Britain respects the independence of the ICC, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said without confirming whether Britain would uphold the warrants.
United Nations
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “respects the work and independence” of the ICC, said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric, when asked about warrants issued for Netanyahu and Gallant.
Francesca Albanese, the UN’s special rapporteur on Palestine, called it a “rare moment of euphoria”.
“I want to acknowledge the innumerable victims of too many wars on Gaza, and the indomitable work of Palestinian HR orgs … without whom the hope brought about by the ICC decision today, would have not come,” she said.
United States
“The ICC issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous,” President Joe Biden said in a statement.
“Let me be clear once again: whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence – none – between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.”
The White House also expressed concern over “the Prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision”.
“The United States has been clear that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over this matter,” a National Security Council spokesperson said.
US senator Bernie Sanders supported the warrants, saying “all launched indiscriminate attacks against civilians and caused unimaginable human suffering”.
“If the world does not uphold international law, we will descend into further barbarism,” he said in a post on X.
Call for sanctions
While the outgoing Democratic administration rebuked the ICC, Republicans were even more forceful in condemning The Hague-based tribunal and demanding penalties against its officials.
Senator Lindsey Graham, an ally of President-elect Donald Trump, said it is time for the US government to sanction the ICC for its warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant.
The US House of Representatives passed a bill in June to impose sanctions on court officials, but the measure has not been considered by the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer “needs to pass the bipartisan legislation that came from the House sanctioning the Court for such an outrage and President Biden needs to sign it”, Graham wrote in a social media post.
In 2021, the Biden administration removed sanctions on ICC officials that had been imposed by Trump, who will be sworn in for a second term on January 20.
Incoming Trump aide warns of ‘strong response’
Congressman Mike Waltz, who is set to serve as Trump’s national security adviser, slammed the court over arrest warrants.
“The ICC has no credibility and these allegations have been refuted by the US government,” Waltz wrote in a social media post.
“Israel has lawfully defended its people [and] borders from genocidal terrorists. You can expect a strong response to the antisemitic bias of the ICC [and] UN come January.”
Senator threatens ICC with ‘Hague Invasion Act’
Sanctions are not enough for Tom Cotton, a Republican senator known for calling for the use of military force, even against domestic protesters.
Rebuking the ICC, Cotton invoked a US law that authorises the US president to use “all means necessary and appropriate” to free Americans or allied individuals detained at the request of the court.
Democrats condemn court
As it often does, support for Israel – even against allegations of horrific war crimes – brought key figures from both major parties together.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman used profanity and an Israeli flag emoji to make his views known. “No standing, relevance, or path. F*** that,” he wrote in a social media post.
Florida Congressman Jared Moskowitz accused the ICC of “antisemitic double standard”, and Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen urged Biden to “use his authority to swiftly respond to this overreach”.
