EU Member States Must Follow ICC Warrants, Borrell Says

Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, emphasized on Saturday that EU governments cannot selectively enforce arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli officials and a Hamas leader. The ICC had issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri (Mohammad Deif) on charges of crimes against humanity.

All EU member states are signatories to the ICC's Rome Statute, which obligates them to implement court decisions, Borrell clarified during a visit to Cyprus. "The states that signed the Rome convention are obliged to implement the decision of the court. It's not optional," he stated. Borrell also pointed out that the obligation to uphold ICC decisions extends to countries seeking EU membership.

While most EU countries have affirmed their commitment to comply with the ICC's ruling, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has expressed support for Netanyahu, even inviting him to visit Hungary without facing any legal risks.

The ICC issued the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant for their alleged roles in crimes including murder, persecution, and using starvation as a weapon of war during the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. The warrant for Mohammad Deif, a Hamas leader, cited charges related to mass killings during the October 7, 2023, attacks.

International reactions have varied. Norway and Canada, both signatories to the Rome Statute, have pledged to uphold the ICC's decision, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasizing the importance of adhering to international law. In contrast, the United States, which is not a member of the Rome Statute, rejected the ICC's decision, with President Joe Biden reaffirming support for Israel.

Hamas welcomed the ICC's move and called for expanded accountability for all Israeli leadership involved in what it described as "criminal occupation."