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Merz says Netanyahu can visit Germany despite ICC warrant
Friedrich Merz, who is expected to be Germany’s next chancellor, says he would make sure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can visit Germany despite an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court.
“I have promised myself that we will find a way to ensure that he can visit Germany and leave again without being arrested,” Merz said from Berlin.
ICC: States cannot unilaterally ‘determine soundness’ of its rulings
Earlier we reported on Germany’s election winner Friedrich Merz saying he plans to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the country – despite an International Criminal Court (ICC) war crimes warrant for his arrest, which Merz said does not apply.
The ICC responded by saying states have a legal obligation to enforce its decisions, and any concerns they may have should be addressed with the court in a timely and efficient manner.
“It is not for states to unilaterally determine the soundness of the court’s legal decisions,” said the ICC.
Israel rejects the jurisdiction of the court and denies war crimes were committed during its devastating war on Gaza.
Germans feel a special responsibility towards Israel because of the legacy of the Holocaust, and Merz has made clear he is a strong ally. But Germany also has a strong tradition of support for international justice for war crimes.
NGO urges ICC to probe Biden for alleged complicity in Gaza war crimes
Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) has asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate former US President Joe Biden for possible complicity in war crimes related to Israel’s war on Gaza.
DAWN also asked the ICC to investigate former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.
The three should be investigated “for their accessorial roles in aiding and abetting, as well as intentionally contributing to, Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza”, DAWN said in a 172-page report to the ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan.
Their alleged support includes at least $17.9bn of weapons transfers, intelligence sharing, targeting assistance, diplomatic protection and official endorsement of Israeli crimes, “despite knowledge of how such support had and would substantially enable grave abuses”, the document said.
