EU declares ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant binding for member states
The European Union's foreign policy chief stated that the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant are "binding" and must be enforced by all member states. This limits Netanyahu's movement, as any of the 124 ICC member countries are required to arrest him. The United States has rejected the ICC's warrants, claiming the court lacks jurisdiction over the matter. U.S. officials expressed concerns about the process leading to the warrants and did not address the warrant for Hamas leader Mohammed Deif. Reactions from various countries indicate a mix of support and caution regarding the ICC's decision. While the Netherlands and France affirmed their commitment to the ICC, Italy and Norway emphasized the need for careful interpretation of the warrants.