EU says ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant and Deif 'binding'

The European Union's foreign policy chief said International Criminal Court arrest warrants issued Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas's military chief Mohammed Deif were "binding" and should be implemented.

"It is not a political decision. It is a decision of a court, of a court of justice, of an international court of justice. And the decision of the court has to be respected and implemented," Joseph Borrell said during a visit to the Jordanian capital Amman.

"This decision is a binding decision and all states, all state parties of the court, which include all members of the European Union, are binding to implement this court decision," he said after a joint news conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.


The ICC's move now theoretically limits the movement of Netanyahu as any of the court's 124 national members would be obliged to arrest him on their territory.

Israel said in early August it had killed Deif in an air strike in southern Gaza in July, but Hamas has not confirmed his death.

The court said it had pressed on with issuing the arrest warrant as the prosecutor had not been able to determine whether Deif was dead.

Borrell hands over his post next month to his designated successor Kaja Kallas.