Foreign Minister G7's Joint Statement Not Alluding To Netanyahu's Arrest Order

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu/screenshot via Instagram @b.netanyahu

JAKARTA - A joint statement by the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) did not mention the warrant for the arrest of the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Italy, who is currently chairman of the G7, said it wanted to try to form a joint position regarding an ICC arrest warrant at a two-day meeting held in the city of spa Fiuggi and ended on Tuesday.

The final statement draft, which will result from the discussion, read by Reuters, did not directly mention the name of the ICC and its decisions.

"In exercising its right to defend itself, Israel must fully comply with its obligations under international law in all circumstances, including International Humanitarian Law," read a joint statement by the G7 Foreign Minister.

"We reaffirm our commitment to International Humanitarian Law and will comply with our respective obligations," the statement said, stressing "there is no equality between the Hamas terrorist group and the State of Israel".

Last week, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict.

The move was heavily criticized by the United States, but other countries including Britain and Italy did not rule out the possibility that they could make arrests if Netanyahu visited their country.

Israel denounced the ICC's decision as an embarrassing and unreasonable act. Hamas praised the move as a step towards justice.

Israel launched its war in Gaza after Hamas fighters invaded Israeli territory on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and holding more than 250 people hostage. Since then, Israeli attacks in the region have killed more than 44,000 people.