Czech Republic considers suspending ICC funding over arrest warrants for Israeli officials

The Czech Republic is contemplating the suspension of its financial contributions to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, following the court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

The Czech government intends to protest the ICC's actions by halting its payments. The Czech parliament is currently working on a resolution to this effect, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Jan Bartoszek, Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies (lower house of Parliament) of the Czech Parliament, has initiated discussions on the matter, emphasizing the drafting of a decree that would align with the stance of both the Czech Foreign Ministry and the government.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavski condemned the issuance of arrest warrants by the ICC for Netanyahu and Gallant. "Putting a terrorist on the same level as someone who defends his country from him, in my opinion, is the wrong [decision]. This reduces the credibility of the court that issued such arrest warrants," the Foreign Minister wrote on his page on the social network X.

The Prime Minister of the Republic, Petr Fiala, said in turn that the ICC's decision undermines the authority of the court in other cases considered by this instance.

The Czech Republic annually transfers 1.2 million euros to the ICC.

By Vafa Guliyeva