Steinmeier: We should not test the International Criminal Court because of Netanyahu

(Patria) - German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier suggests that Berlin should avoid a potential conflict with the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

- We need to make the international legal order part of our own identity - Steinmeier said in an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio, the content of which was pre-released by the German agency DPA.

However, he added that Berlin should avoid "testing" international law in this case.

- This is an appeal not to disregard international law, but not to put it to the test in this case - says Steinmeier.

In the interview, he answered the question about the possibility of Chancellor Friedrich Merz disregarding the ICC's arrest warrant for Netanyahu.

Merz, after winning the German elections earlier this year, stated that "Berlin will find ways and means for Netanyahu to visit Germany and leave without being arrested".

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for the Israeli prime minister for alleged responsibility for war crimes, including the use of starvation as a means of warfare, as well as crimes against humanity.

As a member of the ICC, Germany is obliged to arrest Netanyahu if he sets foot on its territory.

- I think the idea that the Israeli prime minister cannot visit the Federal Republic of Germany is completely absurd - Merz stated earlier.

At the same time, the European Union concluded that Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip could constitute a violation of the Association Agreement with the EU due to human rights violations, Politico reports.