Israel Responds to Canada After Comments on “Netanyahu Arrest”

An Israeli government spokeswoman said on Tuesday that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney should “reconsider” his remarks regarding Canada’s commitment to executing the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits the country.

Spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian stated at a press conference in Jerusalem that “Prime Minister Carney should welcome the Prime Minister of Israel, the leader of the only Jewish and democratic state in the Middle East, instead of making such unacceptable statements.”

Carney had said in an interview with Bloomberg that “Canada will respect international law and comply with ICC decisions,” affirming that any arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu would be enforced if he entered Canadian territory.

The Canadian Prime Minister explained that his country’s recent decision to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations was in response to Netanyahu’s government policies, which undermine the prospects of a two-state solution, stressing that this position aligns with Canada’s commitment to international law and the UN Charter.

In 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges related to “war crimes and crimes against humanity” during the Gaza war.