The government of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed its willingness to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the event that arrest warrants are issued against Israeli leaders for alleged war crimes against the Palestinians.
During a press briefing, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit confirmed that Berlin would abide by the law and execute an ICC arrest warrant if it were to be issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
This statement came after Israel’s ambassador to Berlin, Ron Prosor, called on Scholz’s administration to defy the ICC. Israel’s government has criticized the proposed warrants as anti-Semitic and has urged “civilized nations” to boycott any arrest orders against its leaders. Prosor specifically appealed to Germany, highlighting the importance of the country’s commitment to Israel’s security.
The envoy argued that the chief prosecutor’s actions equated a democratic government with Hamas, thereby delegitimizing Israel and the Jewish people.
The prosecutor emphasized that Germany must recalibrate its direction, labeling the warrant applications as a detrimental political ploy that could severely impact the Western world and its institutions.
Hebestreit chose not to provide a direct response to the Israeli government’s requests. Germany, being a member of the ICC, has consistently backed such international bodies.
France, another ICC member state, echoed its support for the court and stated that the decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders would rest with the court’s pre-trial chamber, based on evidence presented by the prosecutor.
Notably, neither Israel nor the US are part of the Rome Statute that established the ICC. US President Joe Biden criticized the proposed warrants, and members of Congress have even threatened to impose sanctions on the court.
