Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, stated on Saturday that countries cannot selectively enforce arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

His comments came in response to the ICC’s recent warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Security Minister Yoav Gallant.

The ICC charged Netanyahu and Gallant with “crimes against humanity and war crimes”, mandating the 124 member states of the court to arrest them should they enter their jurisdictions.

The warrants were issued against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where the death toll from Israeli military actions has reportedly exceeded 43,985 over the course of 412 days. The charges mark a significant development in international legal action regarding alleged war crimes in the region.

Borrell emphasized that all EU nations, as signatories to the Rome Statute—the ICC’s founding treaty—are bound to enforce its decisions. Speaking during a visit to Cyprus, he remarked: “EU states are obliged to implement the decision of the court. It’s not optional.”

Some EU governments have already indicated their intent to fulfill their legal obligations under the Rome Statute. However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has diverged from this stance, inviting Netanyahu to visit Hungary and assuring that he would not face arrest there.

The ICC's decision has drawn mixed reactions, highlighting divisions within the international community regarding accountability for actions in Gaza. The warrants present potential diplomatic challenges for Netanyahu and Gallant, complicating their international engagements and relationships with ICC member states.

The situation is expected to further test the EU's commitment to international law and the enforcement of ICC decisions, with some member states under scrutiny for their stance on compliance. (ILKHA)