Israel Hayom: ICC rejects appeal to rescind warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant, but sends to lower court

In a decision with mixed results, the International Criminal Court decided to send the decision on whether the ICC has the authority to issue arrest warrants against Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to a lower court, while maintaining the warrants in force.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar released this statement in response:

"We've been saying all along: The International Criminal Court in The Hague (ICC) has no and never had any authority to issue warrants against the Prime Minister of Israel and the former Minister of Defense. Israel is not a member of the ICC and is not a party to the "Rome Statute." The appeals chamber today sent the court to do what it should have done from the beginning: decide on the issue of jurisdiction. On this matter, there is only one correct answer: the court has no jurisdiction over Israel. The warrants were issued unlawfully and should be nullified."

Ever since the ICC issued warrants for the arrest of Netanyahu and Gallant for alleged war crimes in the war in Gaza, Israel has consistently worked to get countries to reject the court's authority to do so, on the basis of Sa'ar and others' arguments. Italy, Hungary, and the Netherlands have all agreed, and others have consented to other arrangements, such as France's announcement that Netanyahu would have immunity if he landed on French soil.