Norway pledges to detain Netanyahu if ICC issues warrant

Espen Barth Eide, Norway’s Foreign Minister, announced that Norway will detain Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues an arrest warrant against him.

This makes Norway the first European country to publicly announce such a position in relation to possible ICC action against Netanyahu.

In his statement, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide emphasized Norway’s commitment to upholding international law. He stated, “If Netanyahu or any Hamas leader facing charges were to come to Norway, we are obliged by international law to do so. The same applies to all European countries.”

This comes after ICC Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan recently requested an arrest warrant  against Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

It represents an important step towards compliance with international efforts to hold those accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity to account.

Several other European countries, have also expressed support for the ICC’s actions against Netanyahu and Gallant. The growing international consensus underscores the importance of ensuring accountability and justice for victims of conflict in the region.