Colombian President urges ICC to issue arrest warrant for Netanyahu

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
11 May 2024 11:36
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Gustavo Petro has taken a bold stance, urging the ICC to issue an arrest warrant for the Israeli Prime Minister amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro addresses the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2023. (AP)

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro urged the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in light of the Gaza Strip genocide.

In a post on X, Petro emphasized on Friday that Benjamin Netanyahu's atrocities necessitate legal action, advocating for the establishment of a peacekeeping force in Gaza by the UN Security Council.

This comes shortly after Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that he would terminate diplomatic relations with "Israel" for its genocidal actions in Gaza that have killed over 28,064 martyrs, with 67,611 others injured.

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The Colombian President has previously sharply attacked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urged that the International Court of Justice hear South Africa's lawsuit against "Israel".

In January, the ICJ directed "Israel" to abstain from actions potentially falling under the Genocide Convention and to guarantee that its military does not engage in genocidal activities against Palestinians, following South Africa's accusation of committing genocide in Gaza.

During celebrations for International Worker's Day, Petro declared to the crowd that "here in front of you, the government of change, of the president of the republic announces that tomorrow we will break diplomatic relations with the state of Israel...for having a government, for having a president who is genocidal."

At the time, Petro expressed that nations cannot be passive when faced with the events unfolding in Gaza.

Petro warned in March that if "Israel" doesn't comply with the United Nations Security Council ceasefire resolution in Gaza, the country would break diplomatic ties with Tel Aviv.

In January, Petro also called for awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to the South African legal team in recognition of their lawsuit against "Israel".

Previously, Petro dubbed "Israel's" crimes in Gaza as "Nazi".

Netanyahu fears ICC arrest warrant: Israeli media

Israeli authorities have become more anxious in recent weeks since reportedly the names of Netanyahu, Security Minister Yoav Gallant, and Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi have been circled as suspects of war crimes that the ICC will look to prosecute.

The ICC has been looking into war crimes committed back in 2014 in the Gaza Strip, however, it has produced no punitive decisions against individuals. The inquiry has been expanded to include the events of October 7, as well as the current genocide against people in Gaza.

Netanyahu expressed his concern regarding increasing reports on the possibility of the issuance of arrest warrants, during a phone call with Biden regarding regional developments and the prisoner exchange deal with the Palestinian Resistance, Axios reported earlier this month.