Ireland PM announces to arrest Netanyahu if he visits

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be arrested if he arrives in Ireland, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said on Friday.

The statement comes after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant.

Asked by state broadcaster RTE if Ireland would arrest the Israeli prime minister if he came to Ireland, Harris said: “Yes, absolutely.” “We support international courts and we apply their warrants,” he added.

The ICC issued warrants for Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday “for crimes against humanity and war crimes” committed between October 8, 2023, and May 20 this year.

Relations between Ireland and Israel have deteriorated since Dublin recognised the Palestinian state last May, a move that prompted Israel to recall its ambassador.

Ireland’s foreign minister Micheal Martin said Friday he disagreed with US President Joe Biden’s depiction of the warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant as “outrageous”.

Martin told Newstalk radio that war crimes have been committed in Gaza. “It’s a collective punishment of the people… it’s genocidal,” he said.