Find out which countries were in favor or against Netanyahu's arrest request at the ICC

The prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC) asked for arrest warrants against Israeli and Hamas officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Also targeted by the action are Yahya Sinwar, leader of Hamas, and Yoav Gallant, Israeli Defense Minister.

ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan said on Monday that the charges against Netanyahu and Gallant include “causing extermination, causing famine as a method of warfare, including denying humanitarian aid supplies, deliberately targeting civilians in conflict.” .

A panel of judges will determine whether the evidence gathered supports the arrest warrants. In any case, the court does not have the means to force compliance with the measure, if it is approved.

The Israeli government has requested that “nations of the civilized world” oppose the prosecutor's request and refuse to execute warrants against their leaders if they are issued.

Netanyahu harshly criticized the measure, saying in an exclusive interview with CNN that the case is “beyond outrageous” and dismissed the case as a comparison between Israel and Hamas. He also highlighted that this will not “stop them”.

Gallant, for his part, described the request for an arrest warrant against him as despicable.

Until the publication of this article, Itamaraty had not commented.

Countries against the request at the ICC

U.S

The president of U.S , Joe Biden, criticized the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor's decision to request arrest warrants against Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He called the arrest request “outrageous.”

“Let me be clear: Whatever this prosecutor may suggest, there is no equivalence whatsoever between Israel and Hamas,” the president wrote.

Furthermore, Antony Blinken, head of US diplomacy, rejected what he called “Israel’s equivalence with Hamas”.

“It's shameful. Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization that carried out the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and still holds dozens of innocent people hostage, including Americans,” Blinken said in a statement.

“Fundamentally, this decision is unhelpful and could jeopardize ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement that removes hostages and increases humanitarian assistance, which are the goals that the United States continues to pursue tirelessly,” he added.

Germany

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany stated that the measure “created the incorrect impression of an equivalence” between Israel and Hamas.

“The Israeli government has the right and duty to protect and defend its population against this [ataques terroristas]. It is clear that international humanitarian law and all its obligations apply”, stated the ministry.

UK

O UK pointed out that the measure could worsen the situation in the Gaza Strip.

“This action is not helpful in relation to a pause in fighting, the removal of hostages or the entry of humanitarian aid,” a spokesman for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement.

“As we have said from the beginning, we do not think the ICC has jurisdiction in this case. The UK has not yet recognized Palestine as a State and Israel is not a State party to the Rome Statute,” added another spokesperson.

Italy

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy Antonio Tajani, highlighted that the decision of the ICC prosecutor is “unacceptable”.

“It seems unacceptable to me that a government legitimately elected by the people in a democratic way is equated with a terrorist organization that is the cause of everything that is happening”, pondered Tajani in an interview with Italian broadcaster Rete 4.

Poland

Poland's prime minister said portraying Israel's prime minister as equivalent to Hamas leaders is unacceptable.

“An attempt to show that the Prime Minister of Israel and the leaders of terrorist organizations are equal, and the involvement of international institutions in this, is unacceptable,” highlighted Donald Tusk at a press conference.

Austria

Karl Nehammer, Chancellor of Austria, agreed with the United Kingdom's understanding that the request for an arrest warrant does not help the situation in Gaza.

“We share the view that the International Criminal Court (ICC) ruling is not helpful to Israel during these very difficult and challenging times,” Nehammer said after meeting with Rishi Sunak.

Countries supporting the request at the ICC

France

A France publicly supported Karim Khan's request and stated that he was in favor of the “fight against impunity”, according to the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The French Foreign Ministry also reiterated that it condemns Hamas' “anti-Semitic massacres” on October 7, and reinforced its warnings about possible violations of international humanitarian law by Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip.

“With regard to Israel, it will be up to the court’s Pre-Trial Chamber to decide whether to issue these warrants, after examining the evidence presented by the prosecutor,” commented the ministry.

South Africa

The South African Presidency welcomed the announcement by the International Criminal Court prosecutor.

“The law must apply equally to all in order to uphold international law, ensure accountability for those who commit heinous crimes and protect the rights of victims,” President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office said in a statement.

Human rights groups support decision

O Human Rights Watch (HRW) praised the ICC prosecutor's decision to seek arrest warrants for several Hamas and Israeli leaders, saying it illustrates the court's “crucial role.”

“Victims of serious abuses in Israel and Palestine have faced a wall of impunity for decades,” warned Balkees Jarrah, associate director of International Justice at HRW.

“This first principled step by the prosecutor opens the door to those responsible for the atrocities committed in recent months to answer for their actions in a fair trial”, he added.

A Amnesty International stated that the action is a “crucial step towards justice”.

“This move by the ICC prosecutor sends an important message to all parties to the conflict in Gaza and beyond that they will be held accountable for the devastation they have caused to the people of Gaza and Israel,” said Amnesty International Secretary General, Agnès Callamard .

“No one is above international law: no leader of armed groups, no government official – elected or not, no military officer,” he warned.

See other positions

Hamas criticizes request

Three leaders of Hamas were denounced by prosecutor Karim Khan due to the October 7 attacks in southern Israel.

In a statement, the armed group said it “strongly condemns the ICC prosecutor’s attempts to equate victims with aggressors, through the issuance of arrest warrants without legal basis against a series of Palestinian resistance leaders.”

Hamas said the arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant were “seven months late.”

During this period, “the Israeli occupation committed thousands of crimes against Palestinian civilians, including children, women, doctors, journalists and the destruction of public and private properties, mosques, churches and hospitals”, according to Hamas.

Russia criticizes the US

O Kremlin said on Tuesday (21) that it is “curious” that the United States appears ready to apply sanctions against the International Criminal Court following the prosecutor’s statements.

Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also highlighted that the Russia does not recognize the jurisdiction of the court.

In March last year, the ICC issued arrest warrants for President Vladimir Putin for war crimes.

European Union says it supports the role of the ICC

A European Union highlighted that it supports the International Criminal Court “for its central role in providing justice to victims in all situations under its jurisdiction”, said a spokesperson this Tuesday (21).

Peter Stano highlighted that the court is “an important and independent international institution” and that the EU will monitor and take note of the process as it develops.

Denmark, Sweden and Jordan respect court authority

A Denmark pointed out that he takes Khan's requests to the International Criminal Court “very seriously”.

According to the Danish Foreign Minister, the country respects the independence and jurisdiction of the court and will defend its determinations.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden , Tobias Billstrom, said that his country “defends the multinational system”. He questioned the comparison between Israel and Hamas, which he called a “terrorist organization”, but stated that his country submits to the decisions of the ICC.

Ayman Safadi, chancellor of Jordan , he highlighted: “Regarding the court, I think I was clear. International law was created to be implemented and must be implemented by everyone, without preference.

“No State is above the law and no one is above the law. The entire international community must respect institutions that have been established in accordance with international law in order to implement justice,” she added.

“May everyone face justice and may we all respect what the court decides. Again, the decision must be for the crime and not the person who committed it,” he concluded.

Ireland supports independence from the ICC

The minister Irish for Europe, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, noted that her country supports the independence of the ICC and would “just allow it to conduct its proceedings.”

*with information from Jonny Hallam, from CNN, and Reuters