An arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu concerning the Gaza conflict does not restrict UN representatives from engaging with him as part of their duties, according to the United Nations, AFP reports.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Netanyahu have not had direct communication since the outbreak of the war following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. However, other UN officials operating in the region have maintained interactions with Netanyahu.
The International Criminal Court recently issued warrants for Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. Addressing this development, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric referred to the organization’s longstanding policy, rooted in a 2013 document, on interactions with individuals subject to such warrants.
“The rule is that there should not be any contacts between UN officials and individuals subject to arrest warrants,” explained Dujarric.
He clarified that exceptions exist for essential matters. Limited interactions are permitted “to address fundamental issues, operational issues, and our ability to carry out our mandates.”
While these statements do not indicate that a meeting between Netanyahu and Guterres is imminent, tensions remain high. Last month, Guterres was declared persona non grata by then-Foreign Minister Israel Katz, who accused him of harboring anti-Israel sentiments.
Guterres has repeatedly criticized Israel since the conflict began. In October, he commented on the Hamas assault, saying it “did not happen in a vacuum,” a statement widely interpreted as holding Israel partly responsible. Facing backlash, he later claimed his remarks were misconstrued and reiterated his condemnation of Hamas.
Subsequently, Guterres addressed sexual violence by Hamas during the October 7 attacks while simultaneously referencing “reports of sexual violence against Palestinian detainees.” His comments sparked further controversy, as they seemed to draw a parallel between Hamas’ actions and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
On social media, Guterres stated, “Nothing can justify the 7 Oct terror attacks by Hamas,” but he also added, “Nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.” He further called for “a humanitarian ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza.”
{Matzav.com}