By Multiple Western nations announced Thursday they would enforce arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, marking an unprecedented commitment to act against a sitting Western leader accused of war crimes.
Italy, the Netherlands, and Canada led a growing list of countries pledging to execute the warrants, which accuse the Israeli leaders of crimes against humanity including starvation, murder, and persecution during the ongoing Gaza conflict that has killed more than 44,000 Palestinians and displaced much of the territory’s 2.3 million residents.
“While I disagree with equating Israeli leaders with Hamas, Italy has a legal obligation to comply with the court’s directives,” Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said, emphasizing the binding nature of ICC membership. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani added that Italy would consult allies on implementation while maintaining the court’s role as “strictly legal and not political.”
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp took an equally firm stance, declaring the Netherlands would arrest Netanyahu if he entered Dutch territory. “We won’t engage in non-essential contacts and we will act on the arrest warrants. We fully comply with the Rome Statute of the ICC,” Veldkamp stated.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell emphasized the warrants’ binding nature for all EU member states. “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,” Borrell said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed his nation would also enforce the warrants, reiterating Canada’s commitment to international law while calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and increased humanitarian aid. “It’s really important that everyone abide by international law,” Trudeau said, drawing praise from the National Council of Canadian Muslims.
The ICC warrants also target Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif but have drawn particular attention for targeting Netanyahu and Gallant, representing the first time the court has moved against sitting leaders of a major Western nation. The charges stem from the conflict that erupted after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi endorsed the ICC’s decision, stating it “must be respected and implemented” and asserting that “Palestinians deserve justice.”
