ICC decision important step forward: President Muizzu

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has welcomed the International Criminal Court (ICC)'s decision to issue an arrest warrant for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Natenyahu, and described it as a crucial step towards encouraging accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

President Muizzu, who is currently on an unofficial visit to the UK, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that Maldives fully respects the ICC's decision and underscored the importance of honouring and implementing the Court’s rulings.

"Upholding international law and ensuring justice for the Palestinian people is essential to restoring peace in the region," he wrote further.

While Maldives' stance has always been against Israel and in favour of Palestine and its people, President Muizzu has been strongly advocating for Palestinian liberation on various platforms. He last spoke in favour of the Palestinian people at the Saudi-led Joint Arab-Islamic Summit earlier this month.

At the summit, the president said that the actions of powerful countries that support Israel show that the lives of the Palestinian people have no value in their eyes.

Along with Netanyahu, the ICC has also issued arrest warrants for Israel's former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas' military chief Mohammed Deif.

"Today, on 21 November 2024, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (‘Court’), in its composition for the Situation in the State of Palestine, unanimously issued two decisions rejecting challenges by the State of Israel (‘Israel’) brought under articles 18 and 19 of the Rome Statute (the ‘Statute’). It also issued warrants of arrest for Mr Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr Yoav Gallant," ICC's press release reads.

It was ICC prosecutor Karim Khan who sought an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and Galant last May, in connection to the crimes, murder and genocide in Palestine.

This comes as Galant was sacked from his position as Defence Minister earlier this month.

While there are 124 member states in the ICC, if anyone who has an ICC arrest warrant issued in their name travels to one of these countries, they would be required to be arrested. However the ICC does not have the jurisdiction to implement the arrest warrant itself.