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France Backtracks, Now Says It Wouldn’t Arrest Benjamin Netanyahu over ICC Warrant

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants last week for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant for supposed war crimes committed in Gaza. 

The decision to issue the warrant contradicted legal advice received by the court that it actually had no jurisdiction to issue a warrant, and prompted awkward responses from Western nations on how they would interpret the law and if they would arrest the democratically elected head of government of an allied state.  

The government of French President Emmanuel Macron has been locking horns with Israel more often in recent months and had previously indicated it would respect the ruling of the court. Its statement immediately after the arrest warrant was issued last week felt deliberately vague, stating only that: “True to its long-standing commitment to supporting international justice, it reiterates its attachment to the independent work of the court.” 

Yet France has now shifted to a new position, publishing a diplomatic communication stating that the nation respects its international obligations, both to the International Criminal Court of which it is a member nation, but also towards third-party nations that aren’t members, like Israel.  

The French government asserted: “A State cannot be required to act in a manner inconsistent with its obligations under international law with respect to the immunities of States not party to the ICC. Such immunities apply to Prime Minister Netanyahu and other relevant ministers and will need to be taken into consideration should the ICC request their arrest and surrender.” (BB / VFI News)