UPDATE ON THE SITUATION – For their part, the G7 foreign ministers, who are meeting Monday and Tuesday near Rome, will discuss the arrest warrant issued by the ICC against Benjamin Netanyahu.
Efforts towards a ceasefire in Lebanon, Crif denounces a “instrumentalization” after the arrest warrant against Netanyahu, the Quai d'Orsay announces “act” of the ICC decision… Le Figaro takes stock of the situation in the Middle East.
Biden and Macron discussed efforts towards a ceasefire in Lebanon on Friday
US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed efforts for a ceasefire in Lebanon this Friday, the White House announced.
“They took stock of developments in Ukraine and the Middle East, including efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, which will allow residents on both sides of the Line blue to return home safely”according to a press release.
Israeli strikes on southern suburbs of Beirut after call to evacuate
At least three new strikes targeted the southern suburbs of Beirut during the night from Friday to Saturday, according to AFP and state media, the fourth raid in 24 hours in a series of Israeli attacks against this Hezbollah stronghold, after a call to evacuate launched by Israel. “Enemy military planes targeted the southern suburbs of Beirut”indicated the National Information Agency (Ani). AFP journalists in the heart of Beirut and east of the capital heard at least three explosions.
Hospital director and six colleagues killed in Israeli strike in Lebanon
The director of Dar al-Amal hospital, near Baalbeck, eastern Lebanon, was killed on Friday along with six members of the nursing staff in an Israeli strike that targeted his residence, located near the establishment of health, said the Ministry of Health.
In a press release, the ministry announced the “loss of Dr. Ali Rakan Allam, director of Dar al-Amal University Hospital, who was martyred along with six of his colleagues in a cowardly Israeli attack that targeted Dr. Allam's residence, located next to the hospital »denouncing “continued attacks by the Israeli army against health personnel and facilities”.
The Quai d'Orsay announces that it has taken “note” of the arrest warrants issued by the ICC
France “takes note” arrest warrants issued Thursday by the International Criminal Court (ICC), the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday. “Faithful to its long-standing commitment to supporting international justice”Paris “recalls its attachment to the independent work of the Court”he underlines in a press release, without explicitly specifying whether France would arrest them if these people went to its territory.
Regarding the situation in Gaza, France “has always and since the start of the conflict demanded strict respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians” et “condemned his violations”recalls in his press release the spokesperson for French diplomacy, Christophe Lemoine. Paris also has “condemned and continues to condemn in the strongest possible terms the anti-Semitic terrorist attacks committed on October 7 by Hamas and other terrorist groups.”
Crif denounces a “political instrumentalization of justice” after the ICC arrest warrants
The arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant are “a political exploitation of justice and an offense to all democracies”Crif reacted on X on Friday.
“Those who rejoice in France at the arrest warrants issued by the ICC do not want to see to what extent this decision is a threat to all democracies”estimates the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France. “What credit can be given to an institution which effectively equates the actions of a terrorist organization with those of a democracy under attack?”asks Crif about X.
“In Israel, as in France and in all countries where the rule of law dominates, it is the national courts which judge the actions of leaders”he continues. Le Figaro takes stock of the situation.
The reactions of the French political class to ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu
“There is clearly a desire to humiliate Israel through this decision”regretted the vice-president of the National Rally Sébastien Chenu on franceinfo Friday while calling for “show this friendly country its support with a little more energy”. “Anything that hinders a political solution is not necessarily welcome at the moment”added the Macronist deputy Sylvain Maillard on the same antenna.
On the left, on the contrary, we welcomed this arrest warrant. “This decision must lead Western countries to immediately interrupt all deliveries of weapons used in Gaza”estimated Olivier Faure on X. “Netanyahu is a war criminal now actively wanted”welcomed Mathilde Panot on the same social network. Manuel Bompard judged that France should “come out of denial and finally act to end the genocide in Gaza”.
G7 ministers to discuss ICC arrest warrants on Monday and Tuesday
The G7 foreign ministers, who are meeting Monday and Tuesday near Rome, will discuss the arrest warrants issued by the ICC, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Friday.
“The Italian Presidency of the G7 intends to put this theme on the agenda of the next ministerial meeting to be held in Fiuggi from November 25 to 26”she said in a press release.
After ICC ruling, UK will 'comply with its legal obligations'
United Kingdom “will respect its legal obligations” after the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the head of the armed wing of Hamas Mohammed Deif, indicated Dowing Street Friday.
“There is a clear legal procedure that should be followed, the government has always been clear that it will meet its legal obligations”a spokesperson for Labor Prime Minister Keir Starmer told journalists.
Iran says ICC arrest warrants mean Israel's 'political death'
The head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards estimated on Friday September 22 that the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his former Minister of Defense meant the “political death” of Israel.
“This means the end and political death of the Zionist regime, a regime which today lives in absolute political isolation in the world and whose leaders can no longer travel to other countries”declared General Hossein Salami, leader of the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic, in a speech broadcast by state television.
Orban announces inviting Netanyahu to Hungary “in defiance” of ICC arrest warrant
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU, announced on Friday that he had invited his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to protest against the arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC). “We have no choice but to defy this decision. I will invite” Netanyahu “to come to Hungary, where I can guarantee him that the ICC judgment will have no effect”he said in an interview on state radio. According to Viktor Orbán, unconditional supporter of the Israeli leader, this is a “shameless decision, disguised for legal purposes” leading to “a discredit of international law”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Viktor Orban for his invitation welcoming the “moral clarity” of its Hungarian counterpart. “Faced with the shameful weakness of those who supported the scandalous decision (which calls into question, editor's note) the right of the State of Israel to defend itself, Hungary – like our friends, the United States – demonstrated of moral clarity and places itself on the side of justice and truth”he said, according to a press release from his services.
China calls on ICC to have an “objective” and “law-compliant” position
China on Friday called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to have a “objective and fair position”the day after the issuance of his arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “China hopes that the ICC will maintain an objective and fair position (and) exercise its powers in accordance with law”said Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, when asked at a regular press conference.
China, which like Israel and the United States is not a member of the ICC, has said it “supported all efforts of the international community on the Palestinian issue which are conducive to fairness and justice and the maintenance of the authority of international law”.
Gaza: lacking fuel, hospitals will reduce or cease their activities
The Hamas Health Ministry for Gaza warned Friday that all hospitals in the Palestinian territory should cease or reduce their activities “within 48 hours” lack of fuel, the entry of which is blocked, according to him, by the Israeli authorities.
“We are issuing an urgent warning because all hospitals in the Gaza Strip will stop functioning or reduce their services within 48 hours due to the obstruction of the entry of fuel by the occupation (Israel, Editor's note)”said the director of field hospitals for the ministry, Marwan al-Hams, during a press conference.
Israel announces end to indefinite custody regime for West Bank settlers
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the so-called administrative detention regime, equivalent to almost unlimited police custody, would no longer apply to Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
While “the Jewish colonies of Judea and Samaria [le nom donné par Israël à la Cisjordanie, territoire palestinien qu’il occupe depuis 1967] are subject to serious Palestinian terrorist threats […] and that unjustified international sanctions are taken against settlers [ou des entreprises œuvrant à la colonisation]it is not appropriate for the State of Israel to apply such a harsh measure [la détention administrative, NDLR] against settlersdeclares the minister in a press release, referring to recent American sanctions, in particular.
West Bank: Palestinian Authority accuses Israel of “encouraging extremist settlers to terrorism”
The Palestinian Authority on Friday accused Israel of“encouraging extremist settlers to terrorism” after the decision of the Israeli government to put an end to the so-called administrative detention regime, equivalent to almost unlimited police custody, for settlers in the West Bank.
In a message on X, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs judges that “This decision encourages extremist settlers to engage in terrorism against Palestinians, their land and property, while giving them an additional sense of impunity and protection”.
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