Estonian Foreign Minister says ICC rulings on Netanyahu must be implemented

After the issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court (ICC), Estonia must comply with the decisions of this independent organization, as they are important. This was stated by Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna on November 26.

The minister noted that the interference of states in the decisions of the ICC at the political level is completely unacceptable.

"We must realize that the ICC is an independent court. And we recognize an independent court. <...> I believe that the court is independent, and we should not interfere at the political level," - quotes Tsahkna TV and radio company ERR.

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Prior to that, on November 25, the Financial Times reported that the issuance of an ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu and former head of the country's defense ministry Yoav Galant could lead to a split in the Western world. It is noted that Israel receives support in the US from both parties, while European Union (EU) governments have acknowledged their willingness to arrest the Tel Aviv prime minister when he crosses their territories. Among the countries that have also expressed acceptance of arrest warrants for Israeli officials are Britain, Canada and Australia, the media outlet noted.

At the same time, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said it was necessary for the G7 countries to take a unified position on the ICC decision. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and Galant on November 21. The decision was made because, according to the body, they are criminally responsible as civilian chiefs "for the war crime of deliberately attacking a civilian population."

On the same day, the head of the EU diplomatic service, Josep Borrel, said at a press conference in Jordan that the EU considers the warrants issued "binding."

In turn, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the ICC's decision to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Galant would in no way help end the conflict in the Middle East.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, when Hamas subjected Israel's territory to a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip, as well as invaded the border areas in the south of the country and seized hostages. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip.