Parties to ICC statutes bound to execute rulings: EU foreign policy chief

ATHENS

Parties to the statutes of the of the International Criminal Court (ICC) are bound to execute its rulings, the EU's foreign policy chief stressed on Monday.

"I take note of the decision of the ICC Prosecutor to apply for warrants of arrest before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, Ismail Haniyeh, Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant," Josep Borrell said on X.

He added: "The mandate of the ICC, as an independent international institution, is to prosecute the most serious crimes under international law. All States that have ratified the ICC statutes are bound to execute the Court’s decisions.”

Earlier, Karim Khan, the ICC's prosecutor, applied for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Gallant and three leaders of Palestinian group Hamas, including political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh.

In a statement, Khan said he had reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Gallant bear criminal responsibility for "war crimes and crimes against humanity" committed on Palestine territory, specifically on the Gaza Strip, from at least Oct. 8.

Khan added that his office had applied for arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders, Haniyeh, as well as Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, for "war crimes and crimes against humanity" committed in Israel and the Gaza Strip "from at least 7 October 2023."

Israel has killed more than 35,500 Palestinians in Gaza since an Oct. 7 cross-border incursion by Hamas that claimed 1,200 lives. The air and ground attacks have reduced the Palestinian enclave to rubble, leading to mass internal displacement and a shortage of basic necessities.

It also triggered a trial at the International Court of Justice, which in January ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.