G-7 to ‘comply with respective obligations’ over Netanyahu warrant
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The ICC issued arrest warrants on Nov 21 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence chief Yoav Gallant, as well as a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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FIUGGI, Italy – The Group of Seven (G-7) democracies said on Nov 26 they “will comply with our respective obligations” regarding the arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The G-7 brings together Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, host Italy and the United States.
“We reiterate our commitment to international humanitarian law and will comply with our respective obligations,” the ministers said in a joint statement issued following two days of talks near Rome.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu last week, prompting outrage from Israel and its allies – including the US, which is not a member of the ICC and has rejected its jurisdiction.
All of the other G-7 countries are members of the ICC – meaning they would have to arrest Mr Netanyahu if he travelled there.
The ICC also issued warrants for Mr Netanyahu’s former defence minister Yoav Gallant and for Hamas’ military chief Mohammed Deif, who Israel claimed was killed in an air strike in Gaza in July. Hamas has not confirmed his death.
The G-7 statement said the foreign ministers “underline that there can be no equivalence between the terrorist group Hamas and the State of Israel”.
“In exercising its right to defend itself, Israel must fully comply with its obligations under international law in all circumstances, including international humanitarian law,” the statement said.
The Hague-based ICC says the warrants for Mr Netanyahu and his former minister were “for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least Oct 8, 2023, until at least May 20, 2024”.
Italy had asked for a discussion on the ICC warrants at the G-7, after apparent splits within Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government over what it meant for Mr Netanyahu.
A diplomatic source said the discussion in Fiuggi was “much broader and more strategic” than what ended up in the final statement, without revealing details.
War has raged in Gaza since Hamas’ Oct 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which resulted in 1,207 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed at least 44,249 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry that the United Nations considers reliable. REUTERS
