The arrest warrant issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif has raised questions about Israel’s global status following its war in Gaza. Countries are divided between supporting the International Criminal Court (ICC) and disregarding it.
The charges against Netanyahu include war crimes and crimes against humanity for leading the assault on Gaza. However, he is unlikely to be arrested unless he visits Ireland or the Netherlands. Hungary has promised not to arrest him, with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán inviting Netanyahu for an official visit.
Both Israel and the U.S. do not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction. The court claims Netanyahu and Gallant used “starvation as a method of warfare” in Gaza, leading to the deaths of thousands. International condemnation over the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza has been mounting, leading to the arrest warrants.
While some European countries have remained noncommittal on whether they would arrest Netanyahu if he visited, others have expressed support for the ICC’s decision. Countries across the Middle East and South Africa have backed the court’s actions. Pope Francis suggested that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza should be studied to determine if it constitutes genocide.
The situation highlights a diplomatic and moral divide between countries supporting the ICC and those rejecting it. Netanyahu has praised countries like Hungary and the U.S. for standing by Israel. The growing tension over the arrest warrants underscores the complexities of international law and accountability.
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