WASHINGTON EXAMINER | Published November 28, 2024
The French Foreign Ministry announced its belief that Israeli leaders whom the International Criminal Court have issued arrest warrants for over alleged war crimes in Gaza actually have “immunities” from such prosecution.
The court issued the warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Nov. 21. After initially indicating it would adhere to the statutes of the ICC — which would include arresting them if they step foot in French territory — the foreign ministry released a new statement calling the issuance of the warrants “not a ruling but the formalization of an indictment.”
The French ministry issued its latest statement on Wednesday, pointing out that the Rome Statute, which established the court, outlines that a country that is a part of the court cannot be required to act in a contradiction of its obligations “with respect to the immunities of States not party to the ICC.”
“France intends to continue working in close cooperation with Prime Minister Netanyahu and the other Israeli authorities to achieve peace and security for all in the Middle East,” the French Ministry’s Wednesday statement said.
The White House, for its part, said it “fundamentally rejects” the court’s issuance of arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant. Not all western countries agree however, as leaders from both the Netherlands and Canada said they would abide by the obligation if put in that position.
Over the course of the last week, as the world reacted to the ICC’s warrants, the French and United States governments were continuing their efforts to broker a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday that the U.S. and France got both sides to agree to a ceasefire deal that will be in effect for 60 days, though the U.S. intends for the deal to be permanent.
The ceasefire took effect on Wednesday morning, though Israel’s military spent the hours before the deal commenced carrying out attacks in southern Lebanon.
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SOURCE: www.washingtonexaminer.com
RELATED: France grants Netanyahu immunity from ICC arrest warrant after Hezbollah ceasefire deal
Several rights groups have slammed France for granting immunity after assisting alongside the U.S. in brokering a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah and Israel.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and others (Image: Getty)
THE EXPRESS | Published November 28, 2024
France declared Wednesday that it believed the Israeli prime minister would have immunity to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The French government argued that Benjamin Netanyahu was immune because Israel has not signed up to the court statutes. The statement was released the day after Israel and Hezbollah announced a ceasefire agreement that was brokered by the U.S. and France.
Other countries including Italy have questioned the legality of the arrest warrant, which led to condemnation from several human rights groups.
The French government intends to continue to work closely with Israel, which it described as a fellow democracy, and Netanyahu “to achieve peace and security for all in the Middle East,” according to a state from the French Foreign Ministry.
It has taken Paris nearly a week to state its position after the court in The Hague issued arrest warrants on Nov. 21 for Netanyahu, his former defense chief and a leader of the Hamas Palestinian militant group.
France initially said it would adhere to the ICC statues, but France’s foreign ministry issued a second statement on Nov. 22 due to fears of it spoiling efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Lebanon.
On Wednesday, the ministry pointed out that the Rome Statute says a country cannot be required to act in a manner incompatible with its obligations “with respect to the immunities of States not party to the ICC.”
“Such immunities apply to Prime Minister Netanyahu and other relevant ministers and will have to be taken into consideration should the ICC request their arrest and surrender.”
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SOURCE: www.the-expressl.com
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