ICC Arrest Warrants: Germany Joins France, Norway to Extradite Netanyahu on Sight

The German Federal Government have joined France and Norway to comply with the International Criminal Court (ICC) decision to arrest and deport Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on alleged war crimes if and when sighted in the European countries.

On Tuesday, an Israeli Ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, appealing to German authorities to reject the ICC’s decision.

This is outrageous! The German ‘Staatsräson’ [Staatsräson is the German word that refers to Germany’s pledge to ensure Israel’s security is part of its national security and interests] is now being put to the test—no ifs or buts. This contrasts with the weak statements from some institutions and political actors. The public statement that Israel has the right to self-defence loses credibility if our hands are tied as soon as we defend ourselves, the statement reads.

On Wednesday, Steffen Hebestreit, who is the spokesman to the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, was asked if the German government would execute an ICC arrest order against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes following the October 7th massacre by Hamas.

Hebestreit said, “Of course. Yes, we abide by the law.”

The response has sparked shocking reactions considering Germany was accused of the extermination of 6 million Jews during the Nazi war.

However, the possibility that Germany would arrest an alleged war criminal like Netanyahu is based on whether the arrest warrants, as announced by the ICC on Monday, come into force.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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