EU's Borrell: ICC arrest warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant must be enforced

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell emphasized on Saturday that EU governments cannot selectively enforce International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants, following the court's issuance of warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif for alleged crimes against humanity.

Borrell, speaking during a visit to Cyprus, reminded member states of their obligation as signatories of the Rome Statute, the ICC’s founding treaty. "This is not optional," he said, criticizing inconsistencies among member states and prospective EU members.

While some EU countries have pledged compliance, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban assured Netanyahu he would face no risk if he visited Hungary.

The US rejected the ICC's decision, with 'Israel' labeling it "anti-Semitic." Borrell pushed back, saying, "Criticizing Israeli government policies is not anti-Semitism. Enough of this misuse."

The warrants accuse Netanyahu and Gallant of crimes including mass killings and using starvation as a weapon in Gaza, which has faced a devastating 13-month-long 'Israeli' campaign resulting in over 44,000 deaths and an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.