France Supports ICC Steps to Issue Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas
- last month
France supports prosecutors' request for International Criminal Court (ICC) judges to issue arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Defense Minister, as well as three high-ranking Hamas officials.
“Regarding Israel, the Pre-Trial Chamber will decide whether to issue this warrant after examining the evidence presented by the prosecutor to support its accusations,” the French Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
"France supports the ICC, its independence, and its fight against impunity in all situations," the ministry said.
The French government also said it had been warning “for months” about the need for strict compliance with international humanitarian law, in particular about the “unacceptable level of civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip and the lack of humanitarian access.”
This French decision reflects a significant change in the position of a number of Western countries, such as the UK and Italy. However, United States President Joe Biden criticized the ICC's move as "outrageous."
France stands out as one of the few Western countries willing to take a tougher stance on Israel. This includes criticizing the US veto of a ceasefire resolution in the UN Security Council and advocating an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Israel continues to launch attacks on Gaza, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire.
More than 35,500 Palestinians have been killed since the offensive began in October last year, with the largest victims being women and children, while 79,600 people were injured.
More than seven months since the war began, much of Gaza has been devastated amid a blockade of food, clean water, and medicine that has paralyzed the area.
Israel was accused of committing genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in January ordered Tel Aviv to prevent genocide and ensure humanitarian aid was available to civilians in Gaza.
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan said Monday that he had applied for arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant for crimes including “intentional murder,” “extermination and/or murder,” and “starvation” during the war in Gaza.
Khan said Israel had committed “crimes against humanity” and accused it of “committing widespread and systematic attacks against the Palestinian civilian population.”.
He also said leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, including Qatar-based Ismail Haniyeh and Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar, “bear criminal responsibility” for actions committed during the Oct. 7 attack.
“International law and the law of armed conflict apply to all,” Khan said. "No soldier, no commander, no civilian leader—no one—can act with impunity."
“Regarding Israel, the Pre-Trial Chamber will decide whether to issue this warrant after examining the evidence presented by the prosecutor to support its accusations,” the French Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
"France supports the ICC, its independence, and its fight against impunity in all situations," the ministry said.
The French government also said it had been warning “for months” about the need for strict compliance with international humanitarian law, in particular about the “unacceptable level of civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip and the lack of humanitarian access.”
This French decision reflects a significant change in the position of a number of Western countries, such as the UK and Italy. However, United States President Joe Biden criticized the ICC's move as "outrageous."
France stands out as one of the few Western countries willing to take a tougher stance on Israel. This includes criticizing the US veto of a ceasefire resolution in the UN Security Council and advocating an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Israel continues to launch attacks on Gaza, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire.
More than 35,500 Palestinians have been killed since the offensive began in October last year, with the largest victims being women and children, while 79,600 people were injured.
More than seven months since the war began, much of Gaza has been devastated amid a blockade of food, clean water, and medicine that has paralyzed the area.
Israel was accused of committing genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in January ordered Tel Aviv to prevent genocide and ensure humanitarian aid was available to civilians in Gaza.
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan said Monday that he had applied for arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant for crimes including “intentional murder,” “extermination and/or murder,” and “starvation” during the war in Gaza.
Khan said Israel had committed “crimes against humanity” and accused it of “committing widespread and systematic attacks against the Palestinian civilian population.”.
He also said leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, including Qatar-based Ismail Haniyeh and Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar, “bear criminal responsibility” for actions committed during the Oct. 7 attack.
“International law and the law of armed conflict apply to all,” Khan said. "No soldier, no commander, no civilian leader—no one—can act with impunity."