After ensuring that France would respect the decision of the International Criminal Court this Wednesday, November 27, Jean-Noël Barrot raised possible “questions of immunity” for “certain leaders” provided for by the Treaty of Rome.
Blurry, always blurry. Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu benefits from a “immunity” Who “must be taken into consideration” despite the arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC), the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this Wednesday, November 27.
In a press release, the Quai d'Orsay invokes the obligations provided for in international law linked to “immunities of States not parties to the ICC”which is the case for Israel. He adds that “such immunities apply to Prime Minister Netanyahu and other relevant ministers” by an arrest warrant from the Court. These immunities “must be taken into consideration if the ICC were to ask us for their arrest and surrender”continues the ministry in a press release.
In addition to Benyamin Netanyahu, the International Criminal Court last week issued an arrest warrant against former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant – as well as against the head of the armed wing of Palestinian Hamas Mohammed Deif – for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot had already mentioned a little earlier on Wednesday, possible “immunity issues” pour “certain leaders” targeted by an ICC mandate, without going into detail. “It is ultimately up to the judicial authority to decide”he added.
Diplomatic effort for a truce Lebanon
An article in the 1998 Rome Statute establishing the ICC addresses the issue of immunity for leaders of countries that do not recognize the court, although it may remain open to various interpretations. Since the ICC's announcement of the arrest warrant targeting Benyamin Netanyahu, France had repeated that it would apply its obligations under international law, but without clearly saying whether it would arrest the Israeli Prime Minister if he came to France . A position that is more vague than other countries, such as Italy and the United Kingdom, which immediately announced that they would respect their commitment to the ICC.
The French statement comes hours after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect early Wednesday morning, after more than a year of cross-border hostilities and two months of open war between Israeli army and the armed Lebanese movement supported by Iran. This ceasefire was notably made possible by an intense diplomatic effort carried out jointly for several months by the United States and France.
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