The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed its unwavering support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its independence on Tuesday.
This statement came in response to the ICC Prosecutor’s request for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, as announced on the ministry’s official website.
“France supports the ICC and its independence and is committed to fighting impunity in all circumstances,” stated the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ministry also expressed France’s dedication to finding a lasting political solution in the region, which they believe is the only way to restore peace prospects and alleviate the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians.
The statement further explained that the decision to issue the arrest warrants would be up to the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber, following a review of the evidence provided by the Prosecutor to support his accusations.
This process will respect the principle of complementarity and the principles of justice, including potential responses from Israeli courts.
For several months, France has emphasized the importance of strictly adhering to international humanitarian law, especially regarding the unacceptable nature of civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip and the insufficient access to humanitarian aid.
The ICC’s Prosecutor, Karim Khan, had previously stated on Monday that he had submitted requests for arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant, accusing them of committing war crimes.
Additionally, Khan has called for the issuance of arrest warrants against leaders of the Palestinian group Hamas, including Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas in Gaza.
Khan elaborated, “Based on the evidence my office has collected and reviewed, I have reasonable grounds to believe that Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, and Yoav Gallant, Minister of Defense, bear criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the State of Palestine in the Gaza Strip starting from October 8, 2023.”
Khan asserted that the alleged war crimes were committed in the context of an international armed conflict between Israel and Palestine and a non-international armed conflict between Israel and Hamas, along with other Palestinian armed groups.
He also charged that the crimes against humanity were part of a widespread and systematic attack against Palestinian civilians, in line with state policy, and are ongoing based on evidence that Israel systematically deprived Gaza’s civilian population of essential survival materials.
