France says it can’t arrest Netanyahu because of ICC immunity

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “immune” from international arrest after a warrant was issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), France claimed on Wednesday.

The French foreign ministry said in a statement that it is committed to international justice after judges at The Hague-based court last week issued warrants for Israel’s Netanyau, as well as his former defence minister Yoav Gallant.

The pair are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023, as Israel continues its devastating onslaught on the enclave.

France was among the first states that announced they would uphold the court’s decision, although officials have not explicitly said they would arrest Netanyahu.

However, the ministry on Wednesday alleged that Netanyahu is covered by immunity as a sitting head of government, because Israel is not a state member of the ICC. This marks the first such pronouncement by a state party to the ICC.