Germany undecided on complying with ICC arrest warrants for Israeli war criminals
Germany is yet to announce whether it will comply with the recent arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the Israeli regime’s officials over war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the country was “bound by” the ICC ruling and would examine what it meant “for implementation in Germany.”
On Thursday, the tribunal issued the warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Minister for Military Affairs Yoav Gallant "for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024.”
The decree marked the first time, when the court was issuing arrest warrants for Western-allied senior officials in the tribunal's 22-year history.
It came amid the regime’s October 7, 2023-present genocidal war on Gaza that has so far claimed the lives of more than 44,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
As for whether German authorities would move to arrest Netanyahu or Gallant were they to visit the country, Baerbock said, the matter was “theoretical.”
Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit also said Berlin would “carefully examine” potential domestic measures to take in response to the warrants, but noted that it would not take further steps until a visit to the country was planned by the Israeli officials.
He also reminded that Berlin had “a unique relationship and a great responsibility to Israel,” despite being, what he called, one of the court’s “biggest supporters” that helped draft its Statute.
The remarks came as part of the country’s ongoing efforts to brush off international legal challenges to its support for the regime, which has featured its serving as one of its biggest arms providers throughout the war.
Germany and the Israeli regime’s others allies, foremost among which, the United States, its most dedicated supporter, have also been reluctant to even accuse the Israeli officials of war crimes.
As the court was processing the legal proceedings, the US even threatened its officials with sanctions as a means of trying to stonewall the process.
Palestinians’ supporters, including regional resistance groups and various countries, have, however, hailed the decree as a triumph.
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