Globes: ICC Warrants may Lead to EU Arms Embargo on ‘Israel’

The Israeli newspaper Globes reported Thursday that the recent decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Security Minister Yoav Gallant might pave the way for a European arms embargo on the Israeli occupation.

The decision significantly strengthens the position of those accusing the Israeli occupation of committing war crimes in Gaza and advocates for severing diplomatic ties, halting arms sales, and imposing broader boycotts.

According to the report, the ruling is likely to have several immediate repercussions, including restrictions on the travel of Israeli politicians. However, the most serious outcome could be increased difficulty in importing weapons due to fears—now backed by high-level legal justification—that such arms might be used to commit war crimes.

Germany, which supplies about 30% of the Israeli military equipment, has thus far refrained from imposing an arms embargo. German media reports indicate that the occupation has provided written assurances to Germany that its weapons would not be used in activities violating international law. However, the ICC ruling could weaken the German government’s position if pro-Palestinian organizations file legal appeals, as they have done in the past.

In the UK, where a legal campaign against arms exports to the Israeli occupation is ongoing, the ICC decision is expected to bolster the arguments of those challenging the government’s policy. Despite the current British government withholding only a small number of export licenses, it continues to allow the export of components for F-35 fighter jets.

The report also noted a significant shift in the British government’s approach compared to its conservative predecessor, particularly in withdrawing opposition to arrest warrants targeting Israeli officials.

This development underscores the potential impact of the ICC decision on the Israeli occupation’s international arms trade and diplomatic standing.

ICC arrest warrants

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued on Thursday arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant on charges of “crimes against humanity and war crimes.”

The court announced its unanimous rejection of “Israel’s” appeal challenging the ICC’s jurisdiction. 

This marked a significant escalation in legal actions concerning the war on Gaza, obliging the ICC’s 124 member states to detain Netanyahu and Gallant should they enter their territory.

The ICC stated that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe Netanyahu and Gallant “bear criminal responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare.”

It also indicated that they “intentionally and knowingly deprived” Gaza’s civilian population of essential resources, including food, water, medical supplies, and fuel.