"The International Criminal Court's issued arrest warrant is the court's independent decision. Sweden and the EU support the court's important work and safeguard its independence and integrity", announces Foreign Minister Malmer Stenergard in a brief written comment, where she does not evaluate the decision as such.
The ICC, based in The Hague, Netherlands, has also issued an arrest warrant against Israel's former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as against Hamas leader Mohammad Dayf, whom Israel claims to have killed earlier.
However, the leader of the Sweden Democrats, Jimmie Åkesson, opposes the announcement and criticizes Foreign Minister Malmer Stenergard's actions.
"It is an incomprehensible decision in a situation where Israel is waging an existential defense war against a blood-stained terrorist organization. It is regrettable that Sweden's Foreign Minister and government cannot take a clearer stance", he writes in a post on the platform X.
Binding within the EU
The arrest warrant means – just like the one previously issued for Russian President Vladimir Putin – that the 120 countries that are part of the ICC cooperation and have ratified the so-called Rome Statute must arrest Israel's Prime Minister if he enters their territory.
The EU member states respect the ICC's "binding decisions", says EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell.
It is not a political decision. It is a decision from an international criminal court, says the Spaniard, who is visiting Jordan.
The decision must be respected and implemented.
Borrell emphasizes that all EU member states are part of the ICC and are therefore obligated to implement the arrest warrant.
USA dismisses
The US government, on the other hand, dismisses the ICC's decision outright. The country is not part of the cooperation, does not recognize its jurisdiction, and has previously imposed sanctions on its prosecutors when they have investigated American actions.
A spokesperson for President Joe Biden's National Security Council says that the US leadership is troubled by the ICC prosecutor's hasty decision based on mistakes:
The US has been clear that the ICC does not have jurisdiction in this matter, says the spokesperson.
