France “will rigorously apply its obligations”, assures Michel Barnier

However, the Prime Minister did not explicitly state whether Paris would arrest the Israeli leader if he visited French territory.

The government reiterates its position. The French Prime Minister reaffirmed, Tuesday November 26, that France “will rigorously apply (…) the obligations incumbent upon it” regarding the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Michel Barnier, however, did not explicitly state whether Paris would arrest the Israeli leader if he visited French territory.

The President of the National Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet estimated on Tuesday that as a signatory to the statute of the International Criminal Court, France “must follow the rules” and arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he came to French territory.

The International Criminal Court, which Israel has not joined and from which the United States has withdrawn, issued arrest warrants on Thursday against Benjamin Netanyahu, his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the head of the armed wing of Palestinian Hamas Mohammed Deif for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“This Court operates (…) independently, an independence to which we, the French Republic, are very attached”added Michel Barnier. “We therefore do not have to comment on these decisions, either to support or to condemn.” Italy and the United Kingdom, on the other hand, immediately announced that they would respect their commitment to the ICC. Conversely, Hungary invited the head of the Israeli government as a sign of defiance.