Biden, Starmer, other world leaders react to ICC warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant
World leaders from the US, EU, Australia, and other nations react to the arrest warrant issued against Benjamin Netanyahu by the ICC
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief, as well as a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict.
In their decision, the ICC judges said there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant were criminally responsible for acts including murder, persecution and starvation as a weapon of war as part of a "widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza".
The decision was met with outrage in Israel, which called it shameful and absurd. Hamas welcomed the warrants against the Israelis, and a senior official told Reuters it was a first step towards justice.
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Here is how the world reacted to the arrest warrant:
Biden calls ICC warrant for Israeli PM 'outrageous'
US President Joe Biden called the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants for top Israeli leaders "outrageous" in a statement, AFP reports.
"Whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas," Biden said after the international tribunal issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
"We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security," the president added.
Netanyahu says ICC warrant won't stop Israel defending itself
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his conduct in the Gaza bombardment would not stop him from defending Israel, AFP reports.
"No outrageous anti-Israel decision will prevent us — and it will not prevent me — from continuing to defend our country in every way," Netanyahu said in a video statement. "We will not yield to pressure," he vowed.
He described Thursday's decision as a "dark day in the history of nations".
"The International Criminal Court in The Hague, which was established to protect humanity, has today become the enemy of humanity," he said, adding that the accusations were "utterly baseless".
Netanyahu said the court was accusing Israel of "fictitious crimes", while ignoring "the real war crimes, horrific war crimes being committed against us and against many others around the world".
UK says it respects ICC independence as court issues Israeli arrest warrants
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesperson has said Britain respects the independence of the International Criminal Court after it issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his ex-defence chief and a Hamas leader, Reuters reports.
"We respect the independence of the International Criminal Court, which is the primary international institution for investigating and prosecuting the most serious crimes of international concern," the spokesperson told reporters.
"There is no moral equivalence between Israel, a democracy, and Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah, which are terrorist organisations. We remain focused on pushing for an immediate ceasefire to bring an end to the devastating violence in Gaza."
Australia backs ICC arrest warrants
Australia has cautiously backed the role of the International Criminal Court (ICC) but refused to directly refer to the arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Anadolu reports.
"Australia respects the independence of the ICC and its important role in upholding international law," said Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Calling on all parties to comply with international law, Wong added that Australia is "focused on working with countries that want peace to press for an urgently needed cease-fire."
US senator Bernie Sanders expresses support for ICC arrest warrants
US Senator Bernie Sanders said he supported the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Gallant, and Hamas military commander Deif, saying "all launched indiscriminate attacks against civilians and caused unimaginable human suffering", Al Jazeera reports.
"If the world does not uphold international law, we will descend into further barbarism," he said in a post on X, alongside a longer statement.
"I agree with the ICC," Sanders added.
ICC warrant 'ignores' Israel's right to self-defence: Argentina
The International Criminal Court (ICC) decision to issue arrest warrants for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister "ignores" the country's right to defend itself, Argentina's leader said according to AFP.
Argentina "declares its deep disagreement" with the decision, which "ignores Israel's legitimate right to self-defence against the constant attacks by terrorist organisations like Hamas and Hezbollah," President Javier Milei said in a statement on the X social media network.
"Israel faces brutal aggression, inhumane hostage-taking and indiscriminate attacks on its population," Milei said in his reaction to the ICC warrants.
"Criminalising the legitimate defence of a nation while ignoring these atrocities is an act that distorts the spirit of international justice," he added.
ICC warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant 'extremely important': Turkiye
Turkiye's top diplomat has hailed as "a very important step" an ICC decision to issue arrest warrants for Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister over Israel's actions in Gaza, AFP reports.
"This decision is an extremely important step in bringing to justice the Israeli authorities who committed genocide against Palestinians," Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan wrote on X.
Jordan reacts to ICC warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant
Jordan's foreign minister Ayman Safadi says the International Criminal Court's decision must be respected and implemented, adding the Palestinians deserved justice after what he termed Israel's "war crimes" in Gaza, Al Jazeera reports.
France reacts to ICC warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant
Meanwhile, the French foreign ministry spokesman says that France's reaction to the decision will be in line with the court's statutes.
When asked during a news conference if France would arrest Netanyahu, Christophe Lemoine said it was a legally complicated question. "It's a point that is legally complex so I'm not going to comment on it today," he said.
EU reacts to ICC warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant
The EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said that the decision to issue these warrants was "not political", and that the court's decision should be "respected and implemented".
Netanyahu 'now officially a wanted man' after ICC warrant: Amnesty chief
Netanyahu is "now officially a wanted man" after the ICC's decision to issue arrest warrants for the Israeli leader and his former defence minister, Al Jazeera reports according to Amnesty International.
"Prime Minister Netanyahu is now officially a wanted man," said Amnesty Secretary General Agnes Callamard. "ICC member states and the whole international community must stop at nothing until these individuals are brought to trial before the ICC's independent and impartial judges."
EU says ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant and Deif 'binding'
The European Union's foreign policy chief has said International Criminal Court arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas's military chief Mohammed Deif are "binding" and should be implemented, AFP reports.
"It is not a political decision. It is a decision of a court, of a court of justice, of an international court of justice. And the decision of the court has to be respected and implemented," Joseph Borrell said during a visit to the Jordanian capital Amman.
"This decision is a binding decision and all states, all state parties of the court, which include all members of the European Union, are binding to implement this court decision," he said after a joint news conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.
The ICC's move now theoretically limits the movement of Netanyahu as any of the court's 124 national members would be obliged to arrest him on their territory.
