G7 to ‘comply with obligations’ over Netanyahu ICC arrest warrant

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) nations said Tuesday they would “comply with our respective obligations” regarding the arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The statement follows two days of talks in Rome among the G7 countries — Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, Italy, and the United States. While the U.S. is not a member of the ICC and rejects its jurisdiction, all other G7 members are part of the court, meaning they would be required to arrest Netanyahu if he traveled to their countries.

The ICC’s warrant, issued last week, is related to charges of “crimes against humanity and war crimes” linked to Israel’s actions from October 8, 2023, onward.

Along with Netanyahu, the ICC also issued a warrant for Israel’s former defense minister and Hamas’s military chief, Mohammed Deif, who Israel claims was killed in an airstrike in Gaza in July, though Hamas has not confirmed his death.

The G7 statement underscored the ministers’ commitment to International Humanitarian Law, affirming that “in exercising its right to defend itself, Israel must fully comply with its obligations under international law in all circumstances.”

Legal concerns over arrest of a head of state

The G7’s statement followed a call by Italy for a discussion on the ICC warrants. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani voiced concerns about “legal doubts” surrounding the potential arrest of a head of state, asking questions about the rules for such an arrest and who would carry it out. He also suggested that Netanyahu would not travel to any country where he could face arrest.

The legal complexities come as Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza, which has killed over 44,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. This follows Hamas’s deadly attack on Israel in October 2023, which left more than 1,200 Israelis dead.