Israel Requests Hague Court to Reconsider Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu and Gallant

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced that it will appeal the International Criminal Court's (ICC) decision to issue an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister, and Yoav Gallant, the former Minister of Defense. According to Israeli media, the country had until midnight on Wednesday, December 7, to file its appeal. The ICC announced on December 1 that it had issued an international arrest warrant against the Prime Minister and the current Minister of Defense of Israel on charges of 'war crimes' and 'crimes against humanity' due to the Gaza war. This is the first time in the history of this UN-affiliated court that such a warrant has been issued against leaders of a democratic government. Fazel Abdullah, a spokesman for the ICC, stated on December 3 that this body only intervenes when national courts in a country do not properly address cases that the court is discussing. According to Israeli media, despite the court's disqualification, Netanyahu's government decided to submit an appeal and request a suspension of the arrest warrant. Israel claims that due to the ongoing war, there has not been enough time to form an internal investigation and inquiry commission. In its initial response to the warrant, Israel alleged that the ICC was pursuing its leaders with 'anti-Semitic' intentions and that the court's chief prosecutor, Karim Asad Ahmad Khan, acted 'biased' against Israel. Reports indicate that the rift among European countries regarding the warrant has encouraged Netanyahu's government to file an appeal. The French Foreign Ministry stated on December 7 that the Israeli Prime Minister has immunity against the ICC's ruling, especially since Israel is not a member of the court. France added that due to its friendship with Israel, it will continue close cooperation with the Prime Minister and other Israeli officials towards 'achieving peace and security for all in the Middle East.' Meanwhile, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier stated regarding this international ruling, without going into details, that if the Israeli Prime Minister visits France, the country will 'carefully fulfill its responsibilities.' The statement from the French Foreign Ministry coincided with the start of a ceasefire in the war between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah group in Lebanon, which was achieved partly through Paris's mediation. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also stated on Tuesday that his country has doubts about the legality of the ruling against Israeli officials. The Prime Minister of Hungary, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, has rejected the ICC's ruling and sent an official invitation to Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Hungary. Fox News reported that by issuing the ruling against Israeli leaders, the ICC has put itself at risk of powerful sanctions from the United States. Previously, Mike Waltz, a proposed candidate by Donald Trump for the position of National Security Advisor at the White House, wrote on social media that the ICC should be prepared for a 'hard response' from the US in January (following the inauguration of the Trump administration).