Irish police have stated that they would apprehend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he were to visit Ireland, according to the country’s leader.
The International Criminal Court has issued warrants for Mr. Netanyahu and former Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The ICC has also issued a warrant for Mohammed Deif, the leader of Hamas’s armed wing, in connection with the October 7, 2023 attacks that sparked Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Hamas has never confirmed the death of Mr. Deif, although Israel is believed to have killed him in an air strike.
In response to a question from RTE, the Irish national broadcaster, Taoiseach Simon Harris confirmed that Mr Netanyahu would indeed be arrested in Ireland. He emphasized Ireland’s support for international courts and their implementation of warrants.
During the interview, he was only questioned about the country’s deputy premier. However, in response to this, the deputy premier confirmed that warrants against the Hamas leadership would definitely be carried out.
According to Micheal Martin, there should be no hesitation in condemning Hamas and Hezbollah for their actions, as well as acknowledging Iran’s negative influence in the region. He emphasizes that this is not a simple issue and requires a nuanced understanding.
In disagreement with US President Joe Biden’s description of the warrants for Mr Gallant and Mr Netanyahu as “outrageous,” Mr. Martin, who also serves as the foreign affairs minister, expressed his opinion.
During an interview on Newstalk radio, Mr. Martin expressed his deep concerns about the United States’ approach towards the International Criminal Court. He emphasized the need for accountability at the international level, stressing the importance of an independent court system. According to him, with 100 signatories, it is crucial to have a reliable mechanism in place to ensure justice prevails.
According to Mr. Harris, the issuance of the warrants marks a highly significant milestone.
According to the court, there are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gallant are criminally responsible for crimes committed during the war in Gaza. These crimes include using starvation as a method of warfare, as well as committing murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts that constitute crimes against humanity.
The court has found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Deif, Ismail Haniyeh, and Yahya Sinwar, the leaders of Hamas, agreed to carry out the attacks on October 7.
The Government has consistently expressed deep concern regarding the way the war in Gaza has been conducted, firmly asserting its belief that the principles of international law and international humanitarian law have not been upheld.
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According to Mr. Harris, these charges are extremely grave.
The Government has consistently expressed deep concern regarding the conduct of the war in Gaza, firmly emphasizing its belief that the rules of international law and international humanitarian law were not upheld.
“We firmly believe in the universal application of international law, emphasizing its relevance and accountability for all individuals, regardless of the circumstances, location, or time. It is imperative that those who are responsible for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity are held fully accountable.”
The Israeli ambassador to Ireland has urged the Irish government to question the validity of warrants being issued for Israeli officials.
Dana Erlich expressed that the warrants had sparked outrage among all Israelis.
“We have repeatedly witnessed the UN and international mechanisms failing us,” she expressed in disappointment. “This marks a somber period for the ICC and the field of international law.”
During an interview on Newstalk, she expressed her belief that Ireland, as a nation that highly values international law, should take a stand against the misuse of these international mechanisms for political purposes.
The ambassador categorically rejects assertions that Israel has carried out war crimes in Gaza.
In May, Ms. Erlich returned to Israel to have discussions with the Israeli foreign ministry regarding the state of Irish-Israel relations.
Mr. Harris and Mr. Martin, leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail parties respectively, are each running in the upcoming general election in Ireland, scheduled to take place on November 29th.