Borrell urges EU to honour ICC warrant for Netanyahu, warns against double standards

EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell has called for European Union member states to abide by the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning that failure to do so would show a lack of consistency in their actions.

Borrell argued that the ICC's warrant is not a suggestion, but an obligation, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

"The ICC's arrest warrant is not an alternative... it is a commitment. One cannot support the warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin and reject the one against Netanyahu. That would be a case of double standards, for which the EU is often criticised worldwide," Borrell said.

On November 21, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Borrell stressed that the ICC’s actions were not politically motivated and that all EU countries should respect and enforce the court’s decision.

In contrast, former Austrian Foreign Minister and head of the G.O.R.K.I. Centre at St Petersburg State University, Karin Kneissl, highlighted what she saw as the West's hypocrisy. While many had applauded the ICC's decision to issue an arrest warrant for Putin, she pointed out that the response to the warrant for Netanyahu and Gallant had been met with indignation by many in Western nations.

Earlier, US President Joe Biden expressed his disapproval of the ICC’s move to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.

Thus, the Group of Seven (G7) democracies are seeking a unified stance on the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following the court’s decision last week.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed the need for consensus, stating that the G7 must present a common position on the matter. While the United States has condemned the ICC’s decision, calling it outrageous, Tajani emphasized the importance of a coordinated G7 response.

The arrest warrants, issued on November 21, also targeted former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Meanwhile, G7 ministers, alongside representatives from Middle Eastern nations, are also discussing a potential ceasefire in Lebanon amid growing tensions with Hezbollah.

By Aghakazim Guliyev