How Many Countries Can Netanyahu Not Enter After the ICC’s Decision?
Following the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) issuance of arrest warrants on Thursday against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes since October 7, 2023, the question arises: How many countries might Netanyahu be unable to visit?
According to the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the ICC, 123 member states are obligated to cooperate with its decisions, including arresting and surrendering individuals subject to ICC arrest warrants when they enter their territories. These countries include:
- Europe: Countries like France, Germany, and Italy.
- Latin America: Nations such as Argentina and Brazil.
- Africa: Some states like South Africa and Senegal.
- Asia: Limited to countries like Japan and South Korea.
Conversely, there are countries not bound to execute the ICC’s decisions because they either have not ratified the Rome Statute or have withdrawn from it, including:
- United States: Signed but withdrew its signature.
- China and Russia: Did not ratify the Statute.
- Israel: Signed but did not ratify.
This means that should Netanyahu attempt to visit any country that has ratified the Rome Statute, he risks arrest, significantly limiting his international travel.
In his first comment on the ICC arrest warrant against him, Netanyahu described the decision as
“absurd and false” and accused the court of “antisemitism” and political bias, according to the
Israeli newspaper “The Jerusalem Post.”
The ICC Prosecutor, Karim Khan, had previously in May requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu,
Gallant, and three Hamas leaders, stating there were “reasonable grounds to believe” that these
individuals were responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In September, Khan sought an urgent arrest warrant for Netanyahu due to violations in the Gaza Strip.
International Reactions to the ICC’s Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu
