Dutch Minister Says His Country Would Arrest Netanyahu if He Visits

(AP) – Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp, whose country hosts the International Criminal Court, has confirmed The Netherlands would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he arrived on Dutch soil.

“The line from the government is clear. We are obliged to cooperate with the ICC … we abide 100% by the Rome Statute,” he said in response to a question in parliament Thursday.

Other European officials were more cautious.

In France, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said he supported the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor but declined to comment when asked more specifically if France would arrest Netanyahu if he were to step on French soil.

“Today, combating impunity is our priority. We ratified the ICC Statute in 2000 and have consistently supported the court’s actions. Our response will align with these principles,” Christophe Lemoine told reporters at a press conference.

Lemoine added that the warrants were “a complex legal issue … It’s a situation that requires a lot of legal precautions.”

In Italy, the foreign and justice ministries didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment about whether Italy, an ICC member which hosted the Rome conference that gave birth to the court, would honor the arrest warrant.

Premier Giorgia Meloni hosted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in March 2023 and has strongly supported Israel since Oct. 7, while providing humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza.