France says Netanyahu, Gallant have immunity from ICC charges, won't arrest them
France said Wednesday that provisions for immunity from prosecution at the International Criminal Court apply to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and, as such, France would not arrest him and other Israeli leaders charged by the court.
In a statement, the French foreign ministry reaffirmed its commitment to international justice after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, but also said that the Israeli leaders were covered by immunity rules that apply to states which are not a party to the ICC. Israeli is not an ICC member.
A state cannot be held to act in a way that is incompatible with its obligations in terms of international law with regards to immunities granted to states which are not party to the ICC, the French statement said.
Such immunities apply to Prime Minister Netanyahu and other ministers in question, and must be taken into consideration should the ICC ask us to arrest them and hand them over, it said.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/france-says-it-respects-icc-warrants-but-implies-netanyahu-may-be-immune-to-arrest/