Germany responded to Israeli Ambassador to Berlin Ron Prosor’s request to reject the ICC’s initiative by saying, “We enforce the law.”
The German government has said that if the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, it will abide by it. Israel has asked Berlin not to comply with the ICC’s decision.
According to Euronews, Steffen Hebestreit, spokesperson for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, was asked whether the German government would abide by the ICC’s arrest warrant against Netanyahu for war crimes.
Noting that Netanyahu would be arrested if he came to Germany, Hebestreit replied, “Of course. Yes, we obey the law.”
Israeli Ambassador to Berlin Ron Prosor called on the German government to reject the ICC’s initiative in a statement posted on his social media account.
How will the ICC’s application against Israel and Hamas leaders proceed?
International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has applied for an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for “crimes against humanity and war crimes”. In addition to the Israeli officials, Attorney General Khan also applied for arrest warrants against Hamas Political Bureau Chairman Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed al-Dayf, the leader of Hamas’ military wing, the Izeddin al-Qassam Brigades.
Israel’s invasion of Gaza after October 7
On October 7, 2023, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, launched a comprehensive attack on Israel on the grounds of “responding to the continuous violations against Palestinians and holy sites, especially the Al-Aqsa Mosque”.
Israel announced that 1,200 Israelis were killed and 5,132 wounded in the attacks on October 7.
