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OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he would be “abide by” rulings of the International Criminal Court after it issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even if it means arresting Netanyahu on Canadian soil.
Asked by a reporter on Thursday if he would allow an arrest to happen in Canada or if he would step in to prevent it happening, Trudeau said “it’s really important that everyone abide by international law. This is something we’ve been calling on from the beginning of the conflict.”
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“We stand up for international law, and we will abide by all the regulations and rulings of the international courts. This is just who we are as Canadians,” said Trudeau.
The court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel’s campaign in Gaza that was sparked by the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre in southern Israel when Hamas terrorists killed 1,200 people and kidnapped 251 hostages.
Hamas is still holding about 100 people hostage, including children.
Opposition Conservatives reacted with outrage to Trudeau’s comments and the ICC warrants.
“The ICC arrest warrants for the former defence minister and the Prime Minister of Israel are outrageous. The ICC is drawing a false equivalency between a liberal democracy and a terrorist group that attacked that democracy last year. Conservatives stand for Israel’s right to defend itself,” wrote foreign affairs critic Michael Chong on X.
“Hamas needs to: Release the hostages. Drop their arms. Unconditionally surrender. We’ll support a democratic ally’s right to defend itself not the false equivalency of the court,” added Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman.
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