France backs ‘independence’ of ICC after prosecutor seeks arrest warrants for Israel, Hamas leaders | EUROtoday
Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.
France backs the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the ‘combat in opposition to impunity’, its overseas ministry mentioned after the courtroom’s prosecutor sought an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and others for alleged battle crimes.
Issued on:
1 min
On Monday, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan mentioned he had requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his defence chief Yoav Gallant and three Hamas leaders, together with its chief, Yahya Sinwar.
If such warrants are issued, nevertheless, members of the courtroom, which incorporates almost all nations of the European Union, may very well be put in a diplomatically troublesome place.
“France supports the International Criminal Court, its independence and the fight against impunity in all situations”, the overseas ministry mentioned in a press release late on Monday.
While US President Joe Biden known as the authorized step in opposition to Israeli officers “outrageous”, the French overseas ministry took a distinct stance.
It reiterated each its condemnation of Hamas’s ‘anti-Semitic massacres’ on Oct. 7 in addition to its warnings over potential violations of worldwide humanitarian legislation by Israel’s invasion of the Gaza strip.
“As far as Israel is concerned, it will be up to the court’s pre-trial chamber to decide whether to issue these warrants, after examining the evidence put forward by the prosecutor … ,” the ministry mentioned.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240521-france-backs-independence-of-icc-after-prosecutor-seeks-arrest-warrants-for-israel-hamas-leaders