Following the announcement by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to seek arrest warrants against, among others, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Luxembourg has not taken a clear stance.

On Whit Monday, ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan decided to pursue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas representatives as part of the ICC investigation into the Middle East conflict.

The decision now rests with the judges in The Hague, who will determine whether to issue the arrest warrants. This process typically takes about two months.

Several ICC member states have already voiced their positions on the development. Both the Belgian and French Ministries of Foreign Affairs have expressed unwavering support for the ICC's work.

The Belgian Foreign Affairs Ministry emphasised that the application for arrest warrants is a crucial step in the investigation into the Gaza situation. France, while condemning the attack by Hamas, noted that it has also consistently urged for the upholding of international humanitarian law in Gaza.

Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, underscored on social media platform X (formerly twitter) that all countries that have ratified the ICC's statutes must implement the court's decisions.

However, some have criticised the ICC Chief Prosecutor's approach. US President Joe Biden described the decision as "outrageous," while UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak remarked that Karim Khan's approach would not aid in achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.

Luxembourg government refrains from commenting on ICC Prosecutor's actions

The Luxembourg Ministry of State has remained cautious regarding the ICC's recent actions. When asked by our colleagues from RTL.lu, the Ministry declined to comment on the arguments presented by ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan or to assess whether his approach might escalate the situation in the Middle East.

When questioned about how Luxembourg authorities would respond if one of the individuals named in the potential arrest warrants were to enter Luxembourg, the Ministry also declined to provide an answer.

The Ministry merely stated that neither the government nor the Prime Minister would comment on an ongoing investigation.

Luxembourg is among the 124 countries that recognise the authority of the International Criminal Court.