Reaction to ICC warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders

(Reuters) – These are reactions to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas chief Ibrahim al-Masri, who is believed to be dead.

The verdicts are for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 and Israel’s military campaign in Gaza since then.

ISRAEL:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office:

“Israel rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions brought against it by the ICC,” the office said, calling the move anti-Semitic.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog:

“The decision chose the side of terrorism and evil over democracy and freedom and turned the very international legal system into a human shield for Hamas’ crimes against humanity.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar:

“A dark moment for the International Criminal Court,” Saar said, saying the court had “lost all legitimacy” and added that it had issued “absurd orders without authority”.

Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid:

“Israel is defending its life against terrorist organizations that attacked, murdered and raped our citizens, these arrest warrants are a reward for terrorism.”

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich:

“Israel will continue to defend its citizens and its security with determination,” he said, calling on Netanyahu to cut ties with the court and impose sanctions on the Palestinian Authority and its leaders “to the point of collapse.”

Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir:

“The International Criminal Court in The Hague shows once again that it is anti-Semitic through and through.”

PALESTINIANS:

Hamas official statement:

“We call on the International Criminal Court to extend the scope of accountability to all criminal occupation leaders.”

Senior Hamas official Basem Naim:

“This is an important step on the road to justice and bringing justice to the victims, but it remains a limited and spiritual step if it is not supported by virtually all countries.”

USA:

Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of President-elect Trump “The court is a dangerous joke. It is now time for the US Senate to act and sanction this irresponsible body.”

EUROPE:

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the ICC rulings for Netanyahu and Gallant are not political and that the court’s ruling should be respected and implemented.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp told parliament: “The Netherlands of course respects the independence of the ICC,” adding: “We will not engage in non-essential contacts and we will act on arrest warrants. We fully comply with the Rome Statute of the ICC,” added he.

French Foreign Ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine said the French response to the rulings would be “in accordance with the ICC Statute,” but declined to say whether France would arrest the leader if he came to the country. “It is a point that is legally complex,” he said.

Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said: “It is important that the ICC carries out its mandate in a considered manner. I have confidence that the court will proceed with the case based on the highest standards of due process.”

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris called the rulings “an extremely important step”, adding that Ireland respects the ICC’s role and anyone able to help it carry out its vital work must do so “quickly”.

MIDDLE EAST:

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the ICC’s rulings should be respected and implemented, adding that “Palestinians deserve justice”.

(Reporting by Nadine Awadalla in Dubai, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Jonathan Saul and Crispian Balmer in Jerusalem, Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman, John Irish in Paris, Charlotte Van Campenhout in Amsterdam, Terje Solsvik in Oslo, Kate Holton in London and Patricia Zengerle in Washington Writing by Angus McDowall Editing by Alison Williams and Toby Chopra;