Borrell called the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Galant binding

The European Union (EU) considers the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Galant and the commander of the military wing of Hamas movement Mohammed Ad Deif "binding". EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell made the statement at a Jordan press conference on Nov. 21.

"The tragedy in Gaza must stop, as I said. And I will be very restrained in my comment. This is not a political decision. It is a decision of a court of law, <...> an international court of justice. The decision of the court must be respected and implemented," he said.

Borrell said he took note of the ICC decision.

"It is a unifying decision. And all member countries of this court, which includes all EU countries, will unite to implement this decision," he said.

At a press conference with Borrell, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also emphasized that all decisions of the International Criminal Court must be respected and implemented.

The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Galant as well as Ad Deif earlier in the day. The court said the decision was for "crimes against humanity and war crimes committed between at least October 8, 2023 and May 20, 2024."

It's going to go according to plan: Israel and Lebanon set to make a truce

US representative travels to the Middle East to discuss the possibility of a cease-fire

Netanyahu's office on Nov. 21, commenting on the issuance of the warrant, accused the ICC of isolating the country and "facilitating terrorist acts" against the Jewish state.

Last November, Israel refused to cooperate with the ICC 's investigation into the situation in Palestine. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Lior Ben-Dor emphasized that Tel Aviv lacked confidence in the activities of the ICC investigative commission.

At the same time, lawyer Burak Bekiroglu reported that Turkey had prepared a lawsuit to the ICC against Netanyahu, accusing him of genocide in the Gaza Strip. Turkey believes that any international outcry or pressure from the court will slow down the violence against infants, women, children and all genocidal civilians.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, when Hamas launched a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip into Israel, as well as invading border areas in the south and taking hostages. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinians seek to return the borders between the two countries to the lines that existed before the 1967 Six-Day War. Palestine wants to establish its own state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and make East Jerusalem its capital. Israel refuses to accept the conditions.