Prensa Latina, Europa Press, Sputnik and Ap
La Jornada Newspaper
Saturday, November 23, 2024, p. 16
Beirut. The Chinese government applauded the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and assured that it is an example of the application of international law on the crisis in the Middle East. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced that he will invite Netanyahu to visit his country to challenge the arrest warrant that, he stated, will be ignored. Meanwhile, G7 ministers will discuss this ICC decision at their meeting next week in Italy.
The ICC, a court based in The Hague that investigates and prosecutes crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, ruled that there is evidence that both Netanyahu and Gallant knowingly sought to leave the population of the Gaza Strip without items essential for their survival and blocking the entry of aid, also hindering the work of humanitarian organizations. They consider that they can be criminally responsible for using hunger as a weapon of war, among other crimes.
Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of China – a country that is not part of the ICC – asked The Hague to maintain an objective and fair positionexercise your power in accordance with the law and interpret international law comprehensively and in good faith. Orbán accused the ICC, of which Hungary is a member and is obliged to comply with its rulings, of interfere in an ongoing conflict for political purposesnoting that the order against Netanyahu undermines international law and escalates tensions. But the court has no way to enforce the order.
The Prime Minister of Italy, the far-right Giorgia Meloni – a country that will receive the leaders of the G-7 – announced that they will discuss the issue of the ICC at their meeting. Meanwhile his government was divided; while Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said that if Israel’s premier visited the country he should be detained, while Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini assured that Netanyahu would be welcome in Italy.
Meanwhile, Iran saw in the ICC ruling the political death of the Zionist regime and assured that The verdict of the International Criminal Court is a victory for the Palestinian and Lebanese peoplessaid the commander of the Revolutionary Guard, Hosein Salamí.
Lebanon, for its part, considered that this decision restores respect for international legitimacy and the concept of justice, and provides an umbrella of trust and security for people around the world. A statement from the Lebanese Foreign Ministry adds that It also shows that the time has passed for avoiding accountability and punishment for crimes..
Hamas, for its part, celebrated a important step towards justicewithout mentioning the arrest order for the head of its armed wing, Mohamed Deif, also included in the ICC ruling, and who according to Israel was murdered, although the Palestinian movement did not confirm his death.