'Not politically motivated': EU's Borrell backs ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu, says it should be implemented

European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Thursday defended ICC’s arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that it is “not politically motivated”.

“The tragedy in Gaza has to stop,” he said adding that the warrant was issued by a court and therefore should be respected and implemented accordingly.

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu, former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas officials. Israel has been accused of war crimes in Gaza while Hamas officials have been blamed for the October 7 attack.

Netanyahu has rejected the warrant, saying it is ‘antisemitic’ in nature. “There is nothing more just than the war that Israel has been waging in Gaza," he said.

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“No war is more just than the war Israel has been waging in Gaza since October 7th 2023, when the Hamas terrorist organization launched a murderous assault and perpetrated the largest massacre against the Jewish People since the Holocaust,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement.

The decision to issue a warrant against the Israeli leaders came six months after ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan requested them.

“The decision to issue an arrest warrant against the Prime Minister was made by a corrupt chief prosecutor who is trying to save himself from sexual harassment accusations and biased judges who are motivated by antisemitic hatred of Israel,” Netanyahu’s office added.

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Meanwhile, the arrest warrant has drawn condemnation from Israeli leaders who have also said the ICC functions with an “antisemitic bias.”

The United States has rejected the accusations made by ICC in its arrest warrant against the Israeli leaders.

Rep. Mike Waltz said, “The ICC has no credibility and these allegations have been refuted by the US government.”

He added, “Israel has lawfully defended its people & borders from genocidal terrorists. You can expect a strong response to the antisemitic bias of the ICC & UN come January.

With inputs from agencies