The International Criminal Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants yesterday against the Israeli prime minister is causing mixed reactions in Europe. Benjamin Netanyahuand former Defense Minister Yoav Gallad, whom it holds responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as Mohammed Deif, head of Hamas’s military arm and alleged “architect” of the October 7 attack on Israel.

Representing the European Union, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, commenting on the warrants issued by the International Criminal Court, emphasized that “these decisions are binding on all member states.”

In his statement, Borrell specifically noted that “I note the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, former minister Galland and Hamas leader Deif. These decisions are binding on all member states of the Rome Statute, which includes all EU member states.”

Defying his warning Borelthe Hungarian prime minister said earlier today that he would invite his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, to visit Hungary, stressing that he would guarantee that his arrest warrant “will have no application.”

Viktor Orban, whose country holds the rotating six-month presidency of the Council of the EU, even called the arrest warrant “wrong”, while stressing that the Israeli leader will be able to visit Hungary for talks “with sufficient security ».

The EU is divided

It is the first time the ICC has issued arrest warrants for the leaders of a democratic and Western-aligned state with Netanyahu and Gallant facing arrest if they travel to any of the 124 countries – including all European Union member states, but not even the United States – which has signed the Rome Statute, the treaty creating the Court.

The Netherlands has already indicated that it is willing to comply. “We are obliged to cooperate with the ICC and we will do so,” noted Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, ​​while Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said this morning that his country is preparing to arrest Netanyahu if he visits the country.

In Italy, although Defense Minister Guido Croceto called the ICC’s decision “wrong”, however, he noted that if the Israeli prime minister or his counterpart visits the country, then they will be arrested under international law.

Berlin is “considering” how to respond to the ICC decision, German Foreign Minister Analena Burbock said today, while Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob made it clear that his government will fully respect the decision on the arrest warrants for both the Israelis and the leader of Hamas.

In London, a spokesman for the British prime minister stressed that the government respects the ICC’s independence, meaning Netanyahu could be arrested if he visits the UK. However, Keir Starmer’s spokesman declined to answer directly, saying “we won’t get into hypothetical scenarios”.