Will comply with ICC's arrest warrant against Netanyahu: G7 nations
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Fiuggi/Italy: The foreign ministers of G7 countries, except the US, said on Tuesday that they will comply with their respective obligations regarding the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Agence France-Presse reported.
The Group of Seven nations include Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, host Italy and the United States.
In a joint statement issued in Fiuggi, the ministers said, "We reiterate our commitment to International Humanitarian Law and will comply with our respective obligations," AFP quoted.
It was last week that the ICC issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu, charging him with war crimes and crimes against humanity. This has incited outrage among Israel and its allies, including the US, which is not a member of the ICC and rejected the ICC’s jurisdiction.
Since all of the G7 countries are members of the ICC, they would have to arrest Netanyahu if he landed in any of them.
The ICC had issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu's former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, and Hamas's military chief, Mohammed Deif.
The G7 statement said the foreign ministers "underline that there can be no equivalence between the terrorist group Hamas and the State of Israel".
In its joint statement, G7 countries said that there can be no equivalence between the terrorist group Hamas and the State of Israel. However, it added that in exercising its right to defend itself, Israel must comply with its obligations under international law in all circumstances, including International Humanitarian Law.
The war in Gaza started on October 7 last year after Hamas initiated a lightning attack into Israeli territory, killing more than a thousand and taking some 200 people hostage. However, Israel started its invasion, which still continues in Gaza and has killed more than 44,249 people in the enclave. Most of the dead were civilians and were women and children.