The German government has stated that the possibility of arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Germany following an international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) is “difficult to imagine.” The arrest warrant was issued over allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes related to the Gaza conflict.
Germany, a strong supporter of the ICC, faces a delicate situation given its historical responsibility to Israel. The country is required to act on ICC warrants, but the German government has expressed reservations due to the special relationship with Israel.
The ICC’s arrest warrants also target former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant and Hamas leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri. While Germany supports the ICC, government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit suggested that arresting Netanyahu in Germany would be a challenging and unlikely scenario.
Germany’s Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, stated that the government is reviewing the implications of the arrest warrants and considering the legal and political consequences.
The last visit by Netanyahu to Germany occurred in March 2023, before the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. While some politicians, such as the Prime Minister of Hesse, Boris Rhein, call the arrest warrants “absurd,” the government continues to navigate its complex position between supporting the ICC and maintaining its strong ties with Israel.
