The International Criminal Court (ICC) is sending a wrong signal by “effectively equating” Hamas with Israel’s Prime Minister, according to V-spokesperson. It was a “surprised” Michael Aastrup Jensen, foreign affairs spokesperson for Venstre (Left) and chairman of the Foreign Policy Board, who could read on Monday that the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has requested an arrest warrant for Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, for possible war crimes. – I was surprised, both that Netanyahu was involved in such an arrest warrant, but I was also surprised that the Israeli individuals mentioned were effectively equated with Hamas’ leaders, he said. – I think it sends a very wrong signal that they should be in the same category, says Michael Aastrup Jensen. The ICC’s request for arrest warrants for leaders from Israel and Hamas at the same time has attracted international attention. For example, US President Joe Biden has called the request “scandalous”. Denmark’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, sought neutral ground and on Tuesday did not want to “discuss with the courts”. – It seems a bit awkward to me that there is a simultaneity. And that the leader of a democratic state is mentioned on equal terms with the leader of a terrorist organization. – But it does not change my conclusion: Namely, that we respect the ICC. Therefore, we take note of it and await what happens, said Lars Løkke on his way to a ministerial meeting in Brussels.
Michael Aastrup Jensen also emphasizes that he “completely acknowledges the court’s work”. – And therefore it is also important to emphasize that what has been presented now is the prosecution. Now the judges have to assess what the prosecution has said, he says. The ICC must now assess whether the evidence that the prosecutors have gathered is strong enough to issue an arrest warrant. An arrest warrant would mean that Netanyahu risks being arrested if he visits one of the more than 120 countries that have signed the ICC Statute. Both the foreign affairs spokespersons of Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance) and Alternativet (The Alternative) urged Lars Løkke on Monday to support the ICC. Enhedslistens EU lead candidate, Per Clausen, has also commented: – I believe the EU should support it if the ICC issues an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and the Hamas leadership. Not follow the US in their embarrassing preemptive rejection, writes Per Clausen on X on Tuesday. 124 countries – including Denmark – have signed the Rome Statute, which is the foundation of the ICC. However, significant countries on the international stage such as the USA, China, Russia, Israel, and India have not ratified the ICC agreement.