Italy, the Netherlands, and Canada have announced their intent to comply with the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The ICC issued the warrants on Thursday, accusing Netanyahu and Gallant of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the war in Gaza.
A warrant was also issued for Mohammed Deif, the military chief of the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas.
A Turkish Newspaper, Daily Sabah said Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stated that Italy would be obliged to arrest Netanyahu if he visited.
According to Crosetto, he disagreed with equating Netanyahu and Gallant with Hamas but agreed with Italy’s obligation as an ICC member to act on the warrants.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also supported the ICC ruling, adding that its role must remain legal, not political.
Tajani said Italy would consult with allies on how to proceed.
This marks the first time a sitting leader from a major Western country has been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity by an international tribunal.
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp confirmed that the Netherlands would arrest Netanyahu if he entered Dutch territory.
He emphasized that the government would fully comply with the ICC, as mandated by the Rome Statute.
The EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described the arrest warrants as legal, not political, and binding for all EU member states.
Speaking in Jordan, Borrell urged an end to the tragedy in Gaza, stressing that the ICC’s decision must be respected and implemented.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also affirmed Canada’s support for the ICC warrants, saying Canada, as a founding member of the ICC, would uphold international law.
Trudeau told reporters that Canada would comply with the ICC rulings and reiterated the need for a ceasefire and a two-state solution, just as he called for the release of hostages and increased humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) praised Trudeau’s statement, calling it a significant step toward justice for Gaza and Palestine.
“This means, in theory, that Netanyahu and Gallant could be arrested if they entered Canada,” the NCCM said, emphasizing the importance of upholding international law and human rights.
The ICC panel accused Netanyahu and Gallant of being responsible for war crimes, including starvation, and crimes against humanity such as murder, persecution, and inhumane acts.
The war in Gaza has displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents and leaving most reliant on aid causing wide deprivation and hunger.
Over 44,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed since the conflict started on October 7, 2023., according to local health authorities.
The war began after Hamas launched a cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people.
