Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Leaders of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey sign a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Trump arrives in Sharm el-Sheikh
Israeli PM's office: PM informed Trump he would not attend Sharm el-Sheikh Summit on account of Jewish holidays.
Israeli media: Netanyahu makes last-minute decision to cancel trip to Sharm el-Sheikh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Large crowds gather in Khan Younis to welcome the liberated Palestinian detainees, waving flags of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in celebration
Buses of released prisoners arrive in Ramallah
Israeli media: Netanyahu gifts Trump a "Golden Dove".
Israeli media: Netanyahu will take part in Sharm el-Sheikh Summit.
Trump's Air Force One lands in Tel Aviv
Al-Qassam: To our free prisoners: Gaza, its Resistance, have given their most precious possessions, have striven with all their might to break your chains; we pledge that your cause will remain at the top of our national priorities until you are all freed.

UN Rapp., ICC head reject France's claim of Netanyahu's court immunity

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 30 Nov 2024 09:12
4 Min Read

UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, has elaborated that the ICC had previously ruled against the argument of state immunity, making it inapplicable in such cases.

Listen
  • x
  •  Prime Minister of
    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, on September 27, 2024. (AP)

The UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, dismissed France's claim that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Security Minister Yoav Gallant could be shielded by immunity from the International Criminal Court (ICC). She asserted on Thursday that such immunity holds "no" legal validity.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot suggested on Wednesday that the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the ICC, addresses immunity for certain leaders. However, he noted that decisions on such matters ultimately lie with judicial authorities.

France's Foreign Ministry later issued a statement reaffirming the country's commitment to its obligations under the Rome Statute, stating, “France will respect its international obligations, understanding that the Rome Statute requires full cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC).” However, the Ministry also emphasized that “a state cannot be required to act in a manner inconsistent with its obligations under international law regarding the immunities of states that are not parties to the ICC.”

Albanese firmly rejected, as cited by Anadolu, France's interpretation, saying, “No, because it’s been already resolved by the court in the case of Omar al-Bashir in the past, and no one [challenged it].”

It is worth noting that al-Bashir, the former Sudanese leader, was indicted by the ICC in 2009 and 2010 for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

Albanese elaborated that the ICC had previously ruled against the argument of state immunity, making it inapplicable in such cases. She also warned that obstructing the enforcement of an ICC arrest warrant could violate Article 70 of the Rome Statute, which criminalizes obstruction to the administration of justice.

“I want to point to the fact that obstructing the execution of an ICC arrest warrant could be seen as a breach of Article 70, an obstruction to the administration of justice, which is an offense, a criminal offense in itself,” she stressed.

Related News

Mamdani vows to arrest Netanyahu if elected New York mayor

Activists slam EU: Why was ICC-wanted Netanyahu given passage to US?

The rapporteur criticized what she described as France’s “double standards” in its stance on the ICC warrants for Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the latter issued in March 2023 despite Russia not being a party to the Rome Statute.

ICC prosecutor: No legal grounds to suspend arrest warrants for Israeli official

The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, Karim Khan, urged the dismissal of "Israel’s" appeal regarding the arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Security Minister Yoav Gallant.

In a document published Friday on the ICC website, Khan argued that the appeal is premature and not legally admissible at this stage, although an appeal could be possible later in the legal process.

"Israel" had submitted a direct appeal on Wednesday to the ICC’s Appeals Chamber, contesting the Pre-Trial Chamber I’s decision on "Israel’s" jurisdictional challenge under Article 19(2) of the Rome Statute. However, Khan clarified that the court's decision does not qualify as a ruling "with respect to jurisdiction" and is therefore not subject to direct appeal under Article 82(1)(a) of the Statute.

“The Decision is not a decision ‘with respect to jurisdiction,’ and it is therefore not directly appealable under article 82(1)(a) of the Statute,” Khan stated.

He emphasized that the Pre-Trial Chamber's decision prevents "Israel" from filing a jurisdictional challenge until a determination is made under Article 58 of the Rome Statute but acknowledged that such a challenge could be pursued later if the condition is met.

Khan called for the dismissal of the appeal and rejection of "Israel’s" request to suspend the arrest warrants. “Accordingly, these appeal proceedings should be discontinued, and Israel’s Suspension Request be rejected while the proceedings before Pre-Trial Chamber with respect to the same Decision follow their course,” he added.

He firmly concluded, “In any event, there is no legal basis to suspend the arrest warrants issued by the Pre-Trial Chamber.”

The arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, issued last week, accuse them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza during the ongoing genocide.

  • ICC arrest warrant
  • arrest warrant
  • Francesca Albanese
  • ICC
  • Karim Khan
  • United Nations
  • Gaza genocide
  • Benjamin Netanyahu
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

The Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza showed that after combating Israeli aggression for two years, they remain victorious in the face of oppression (Mahdi Rteil/Al Mayadeen English)

Al-Aqsa Flood two years on, a tale of victory

  • Politics
  • 6 Oct 2025
Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl

The Life of a No-Girl: The one verse Taylor Swift refuses to sing

  • Arts and Culture
  • 8 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
Ceasefire in Gaza takes effect amid conflicting signals and bombings

Gaza ceasefire takes effect; 'Israel' resumes bombing, timing disputed

  • Politics
  • 9 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
'Israel' used fake 3D tunnel footage to justify Gaza genocide: LaSexta
Palestine

'Israel' used fake 3D tunnel footage to justify Gaza genocide: LaSexta

drop site
Politics

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

ap
Politics

SDF, Damascus reach preliminary deal to integrate forces

Palestinians search through the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, on October 12, 2025. (AFP)
Politics

Gaza families return to ruins, searching for their loved ones

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS