Germany Berlin examines further action after arrest warrant for Netanyahu

The German government has not yet decided how to deal with the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit announced that the resulting "domestic steps" would be carefully examined. Further steps would only be taken once a stay in Germany by Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Joav Galant was foreseeable, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit announced in Berlin.

The court's decision is controversial. Several of Israel's allies criticized the arrest warrant - above all the USA. However, the United States does not recognize the court and is not obliged to execute the arrest warrant.

Germany, on the other hand, sees itself as the biggest supporter of the court, as Hebestreit also announced. "This stance is also the result of German history. At the same time, it is a consequence of German history that we share unique relations and a great responsibility with Israel," he added. The German government had been involved in the drafting of the ICC Statute. It had taken note of the Court's decision.

The International Criminal Court had issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu and the recently dismissed Israeli Defense Minister Galant for alleged war crimes in the Gaza war. The judges in The Hague also issued an arrest warrant for a leader of the terrorist organization Hamas - Mohammad Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, known by the surname Deif. According to Israeli sources, however, he is no longer alive.

SDA