Browsing: ICC

The ICC has been dealt a harsh blow by one of its founding states, which also prides itself on being the “homeland of human rights.” On Wednesday, France issued a cryptic statement undermining both the authority of this judicial body and the arrest warrant issued six days earlier by its judges against Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the context of the war in Gaza.

The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant. The ICC says both men – alongside a Hamas leader who was killed in July – bore “criminal responsibility” for crimes during the war between Israel and Hamas. The court accuses Israel of using starvation as a war tactic and for intentionally targeting civilians.

European leaders mixed reaction EU

Despite Hungary’s resistance, Italy, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands and France have signalled that they would respect the court’s decision and potentially arrest Netanyahu if he travelled to one of their countries.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Friday he would invite Benjamin Netanyahu to visit his country and that he would guarantee that an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against the Israeli prime minister would “not be observed.”

“Whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence – none – between Israel and Hamas,” Biden said in a statement, external. “We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.”

The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the former defence minister, Yoav Gallant. The European leaders – including PM Keir Starmer – have backed the arrest of Netanyahu, and several papers note if the Israeli prime minister steps foot in the UK, he’ll be arrested.

Several papers pay tribute to the ex-deputy prime minister John Prescott who died at 86. Other domestic stories include the latest death in the alcohol poisonings in Laos, this time a 28-year-old British woman. There is ongoing coverage of the farm tax fallout and No 10’s vow to stand with Ukraine features.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the use of US and UK missiles by Ukraine means the West is now involved in his war against Ukraine.