Paris:
Israel and its allies denounced the Worldwide Prison Court docket’s determination to concern an arrest warrant Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whilst Turkey — and rights teams – welcomed the transfer.
The court docket additionally issued warrants for Israel’s former defence minister in addition to Hamas’s navy chief Mohammed Deif.
They have been issued in response to accusations of crimes towards humanity and struggle crimes in Israel’s struggle on Hamas in Gaza, set off by the militant Palestinian group’s October 7, 2023 assault.
Israel: New ‘Dreyfus trial’
“The anti-Semitic determination of the Worldwide Prison Court docket is akin to the modern-day Dreyfus trial — and it’ll finish in the identical manner,” Netanyahu mentioned in a press release.
He was referring to the Nineteenth-century Alfred Dreyfus affair by which a Jewish military captain was wrongly convicted of treason in France earlier than being exonerated.
US: ‘Essentially rejects’
The US “basically rejects” the ICC’s determination and “we stay deeply involved by the prosecutor’s rush to hunt arrest warrants and the troubling course of errors that led to this determination”, mentioned a Nationwide Safety Council spokesperson.
“The US has been clear that the ICC doesn’t have jurisdiction over this matter.”
Argentina: ‘Deep disagreement’
Argentina “declares its deep disagreement” with the choice, which “ignores Israel’s legit proper to self-defence towards the fixed assaults by terrorist organisations like Hamas and Hezbollah,” President Javier Milei posted on X.
Hamas: ‘Justice’
“(It is) an vital step in direction of justice and might result in redress for the victims typically, but it surely stays restricted and symbolic if it’s not supported by all means by all international locations world wide,” Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim mentioned of the warrants towards Israeli politicians.
European Union: ‘Binding’
“It isn’t a political determination,” mentioned EU overseas coverage chief Josep Borrell, talking throughout a go to to Jordan.
“It’s a determination of a court docket, of a court docket of justice, of a world court docket of justice. And the choice of the court docket must be revered and applied.”
Israeli victims: ‘Important’
“This arrest warrant towards Mr Deif is massively important,” mentioned Yael Vias Gvirsman, who represents 300 Israeli victims of the October 7 Hamas assaults.
“It means these victims’ voices are being heard,” she added, talking from exterior the court docket in The Hague.
Palestinian Authority: ‘Signal of hope’
The Palestinian Authority, a rival of Hamas, mentioned “the ICC’s determination represents hope and confidence in worldwide regulation and its establishments”.
It urged ICC members to implement “a coverage of severing contact and conferences’ with Netanyahu and Gallant.
Amnesty Worldwide: ‘Wished man’
“Prime Minister Netanyahu is now formally a wished man,” mentioned Amnesty’s Secretary Basic Agnes Callamard.
“ICC member states and the entire worldwide neighborhood should cease at nothing till these people are dropped at trial earlier than the ICC’s impartial and neutral judges.”
Human Rights Watch: not ‘past’ the regulation
“The ICC arrest warrants towards senior Israeli leaders and a Hamas official break by way of the notion that sure people are past the attain of the regulation.”
Turkey: ‘Optimistic determination’
The ICC’s determination “is a belated however optimistic determination to cease the bloodshed and put an finish to the genocide in Palestine,” Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc mentioned on X.
Overseas Minister Hakan Fidan welcomed the warrants as “a particularly vital step”.
Italy: ‘Will consider’
“We assist the ICC, whereas all the time remembering that the court docket should play a authorized position and never a political position,” mentioned Overseas Minister Antonio Tajani.
“We are going to consider along with our allies what to do and learn how to interpret this determination.”
Norway: ‘Confidence’
“It is vital that the ICC carries out its mandate in a considered method. I’ve confidence that the court docket will proceed with the case based mostly on the best truthful trial requirements,” Overseas Minister Espen Barth Eide mentioned.
Sweden: ‘Independence and integrity’
“Sweden and the EU assist the vital work of the court docket and safeguard its independence and integrity,” Overseas Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard mentioned.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)