G7 ministers to discuss Netanyahu arrest warrant next week
The foreign ministers of the G7 countries will meet next week to discuss arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza and Israel. Belgium has already declared that it supports the arrest warrants for amongst others Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Apart from Netanyahu, the arrest warrants also target former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant and Mohammed Deif, a military commander of Hamas who may have already died. The ICC accuses Netanyahu – and Gallant – of using starvation as a method of warfare, murder, persecution and targeting civilians. “The alleged crimes against humanity were part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza,” the court said.
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, the current president of the G7, said the G7 ministers will discuss the matter, after her defence minister declared on Thursday that Italy should arrest Netanyahu if he visits Italy. The ministers will meet in Fiuggi, Italy, on Monday and Tuesday.
Besides Italy, the G7 includes France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, the United States, Canada – and the European Union is represented at all meetings as well. Only the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that forms the basis of the ICC.
Reactions to the arrest warrants have been divided. A majority of European member states have stated that they respect the ICC’s decision, although Germany's silence is remarkable. Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Ireland and Spain, amongst others, have declared that they support the warrants. The United States and countries such as Hungary reacted disapprovingly. Austria and Eastern European countries are also critical of the decision.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and defence minister Yoav Gallant attend a press conference in 2023 © BELGA PHOTO Abir SULTAN / POOL / AFP
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