The failure to implement the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Galant is a "violation of international law," UN rapporteur Giorgos Katrougalos said.

The memorandum, issued on November 21, accuses both Netanyahu and Galant of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in light of the ongoing war of extermination in the Gaza Strip for more than a year.

In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Katrougalos pointed out that the International Criminal Court's decision to arrest the Israeli Prime Minister and his former Defense Minister "clearly shows that crimes are being committed in Palestine."

France had previously claimed that the ICC's decisions could not apply to heads of state and government, and claimed that the decision to arrest Netanyahu could not be implemented.

For his part, the UN rapporteur confirmed that he "did not hear such a statement from France when a similar accusation was made against Russian President Vladimir Putin," wondering why.

On November 27, French Foreign Minister Jean Barrot explained, according to Anadolu Agency, that “Netanyahu can benefit from immunity under international law,” noting that Paris’ position on the issue of the International Criminal Court will not serve its interests or Europe’s interests.

Duty arrest

Katrougalos pointed out that the mission of the International Criminal Court is to bring to justice those with influence and heads of governments who commit crimes, stressing that countries that do not implement the decision of the International Criminal Court "violate international legitimacy", and that "any person against whom an arrest warrant has been issued must be arrested if he is on the territory of a country that has signed and ratified the Rome Statute."

He added that "acting differently would be a new violation of international law, such as continuing to sell weapons to Israel," noting that countries that do not abide by the decisions of the International Criminal Court "will be partners in the crimes committed."

Katrougalos stressed to Anadolu the need to protect the United Nations system, expressing his concern over Israel's statements towards the international organization, and said, "The only thing that separates international law from complete chaos is the existence of the United Nations, and they must protect it at any cost."

The court's decision came after ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan announced in a statement on May 20 that he was seeking to issue arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Galant on charges of "war crimes."

Khan again asked the court last August to expedite the issuance of arrest warrants against them, in light of Israel’s continued massacres in the Palestinian territories, ignoring the UN Security Council’s resolution to end the war immediately, and the International Court of Justice’s orders to take measures to prevent acts of genocide and improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.