Following the announcement that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes during the Gaza War, Canada, France, Norway, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands and Ireland said they would comply with the decision.
“First of all, as Canada has always said, it’s really important that everyone abide by international law. This is something we’ve been calling on from the beginning of the conflict,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in the Toronto area.
Trudeau pointed out that Canada was one of the founding members of the ICC, and added, “We stand up for international law, and we will abide by all the regulations and rulings of the international courts.”
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell denied that the arrest warrants were politically motivated and that the court decision should be respected.
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp told parliament: “The Netherlands obviously respects the independence of the ICC,” adding: “We won’t engage in non-essential contacts and we will act on the arrest warrants.”
Norway welcomed the decision and 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.”
Ireland hailed the ICC’s arrest warrants, with Prime Minister Simon Harris calling the decision “an extremely significant step ” and indicating that it would support anyone who wished to implement the ICC’s decision “with urgency.”
The Swiss Federal Office of Justice said that according to the Rome Statute, it would have to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they stepped onto Swiss soil.
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said her country respected the ICC’s independence and they would decide whether the decision would be implemented in Sweden by arresting Netanyahu and Gallant.
Although France’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christophe Lemoine said his country’s reaction was “in line with ICC statues,” he refused to indicate whether France would arrest Netanyahu or Gallant if they should visit the country. “It’s a point that is legally complex,” he said.
