(Adnkronos) – Italy has categorically rejected arresting Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the 15-month-old Gaza conflict, saying such a move would be unwarranted, unachievable and counter-productive.
“We (Italy) have never made war crimes accusations,” foreign minister Antonio Tajani Tajani told Sky Tg24 on Friday.
“We have always said however that in some instances the limits of proportionate reaction have been exceeded,” he went on.
Italy has “firmly” protested to Israel over such cases, Tajani continued, saying that France “has a similar position”.
“This is not the best way to arrive to peace, which is what interests us,” Tajani underlined.
“Arresting Netanyahu becomes is merely an unattainable hypothesis,” Tajani said.
International Criminal Court judges issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, former Israeli defence chief Yoav Gallant and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri in November for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel’s war in Gaza.
Israel has rejected the Hague-based ICC’s jurisdiction and denies war crimes. The United States, Israel’s chief ally, is also not a member of the ICC and last week its legislature voted to sanction the ICC in protest at the arrest warrants.
Israeli warplanes have launched intense strikes on Gaza since a ceasefire deal was agreed with Gaza-ruling Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Wednesday, which is due to enter into force on Sunday. On Thursday, Palestinian authorities said 86 people were killed in a day.
