Germany considers the possibility of Netanyahu's arrest.
The International Criminal Court has requested arrest warrants for Israeli government officials and Hamas leaders, sparking outrage in Israel. Germany, however, would follow the court's decision as they're loyal supporters of the ICC.
German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit mentioned that Germany would "naturally" comply with the decision of the ICC. Karim Ahmad Khan, the court's chief prosecutor, had applied for arrest warrants against Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as the head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar. Germany supports the ICC fundamentally, according to Hebestreit.
The request for arrest warrants was based on alleged crimes against humanity committed during the Gaza war. The German government criticized the simultaneous application for warrants against Israel's Prime Minister and the leadership of the extremist Islamic group Hamas. A spokesperson for the Foreign Office explained that the simultaneous applications created a false impression.
Israeli politicians expressed their indignation at the move. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara stated that there was no basis for the request. Israel has previously stated that the court lacks authority to investigate government officials. Israel and its security forces operate under international law, Baharav-Miara emphasized.
The US and Israel refuse to recognize the tribunal, but the Palestinian territories are party to it. Since Khan is allowed to investigate, the judges must now decide whether to issue arrest warrants. If the allegations are confirmed, the main proceedings against the accused can begin.
Despite the controversial approach of the ICC, SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich urges an impartial examination of the accusations against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "It is not fitting to equate the applications for arrest warrants against Hamas leaders and Israeli government officials in the same breath," Mützenich told "Stern." "If the chief prosecutor at the ICC has uncovered reliable and concrete evidence against the Israeli officials, this should be assessed by an independent panel of judges without prejudice."
Mützenich recommends restraint in the public debate and encourages people to avoid harming the court. He noted that its integrity and legitimacy are crucial, even if there are concerns about the prosecution's actions.
He stressed that the Hamas leaders were responsible for a brutal massacre in Israel, where individuals were killed, raped, and abducted on October 7. Israel has the right and duty to protect its population from this, he added. Hamas still holds Israeli hostages under horrific conditions, attacks Israel with rockets, and uses the civilian population in Gaza as human shields. "It is clear that international humanitarian law and all its obligations apply," confirmed the spokesperson.
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- Despite Germany's loyalty towards the International Criminal Court (ICC), the decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leaders has sparked outrage in Israel.
- The German government has criticized the simultaneous application for warrants against Israel's Prime Minister and the leadership of Hamas, stating that it creates a false impression.
- The USA, being one of the countries that refuse to recognize the tribunal, is not involved in the potential war crimes investigations in the Gaza Strip, but the Palestinian territories are party to it.
- The Gaza Strip, a region often affected by wars and conflicts between Israel and Hamas, has seen allegations of war crimes during past Israel wars, such as the one in 2021, which sparked the request for arrest warrants.
Source: www.ntv.de
