Germany announced that it will comply with the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli officials
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s spokesman announced on Wednesday that Berlin will arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if the International Criminal Court issues an arrest warrant for him.
When asked about Germany’s position on the implementation of the ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant, spokesman Steffen Hepsstrait stressed that “Germany abides by the law,” stressing that Germany will respect the court’s decisions.
The judges of the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber are currently examining a request by Prosecutor Karim Khan to charge Israeli officials with war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian Authority had previously approved the ICC’s jurisdiction over crimes committed by Israel.
However, Israel refuses to recognize the court’s jurisdiction over the actions of the Israeli army in Gaza and the West Bank.
Late last month, Netanyahu warned that issuing arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court would be an “unprecedented anti-Semitic hate crime”.
Khan told CNN that the court had requested injunctions against Netanyahu and Galant on charges that include “causing genocide and using starvation as a method of warfare, including denying humanitarian relief supplies and deliberately targeting civilians”.
After Khan’s announcement, Germany affirmed its respect for the independence of the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
“The International Criminal Court is a key achievement for the international community and enjoys the constant support of Germany,” the German Foreign Ministry said.
On the other hand, Israel criticized German Chancellor statements, regarding the International Criminal Court issued warrant arrest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited Berlin.
Israeli government spokesman Avi Hayman told Fox News, “Many in the world need to check their moral compass and be on the right side of history”.
Israel’s ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, also denounced the statement in a post on X, describing the Germany decision as an outrageous.
