Trudeau Stating Canada Would Abide ICC's Warrant to Arrest Netanyahu & Gallant is Diplomatic & Moral Affront

Earlier this week, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (who Bibi fired earlier this month) over its conduct in Gaza.

That the ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas leader Mohammed Deif is immaterial. For starters, Deif is dead, killed by Israel last July. Frankly, I'm surprised the ICC didn't charge Netanyahu and Gallant for Deif's death. As it stands, the warrant against Deif is literally a dead letter. But in indicting Deif the ICC is basically telling the world there is no difference between democratically elected leaders and a terrorist organization whose aim and objective is the destruction of Israel. 

Aside from the decision itself, what has been equally disgraceful is the response of governments within the EU such as Ireland, The Netherlands and Spain who have indicated they would enforce the warrant. A spokesman for U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated the government would fulfill its "legal obligations" thus making it appear they too would arrest Netanyahu and/or Gallant. Meanwhile, Australia is being deliberately ambiguous. 

But the worse response of all has been from Canada, specifically Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who stated, “We stand up for international law, and we will abide by all the all the regulations and rulings of the international courts. This is just who we are as Canadians.”

Trudeau certainly does not speak for all Canadians such as Leo Housakos, a Conservative Senator from Quebec, denounced Trudeau's statement on X:

Disgraceful comments today from Justin Trudeau suggesting Canadian authorities would arrest Israeli PM Netanyahu.

This ill-considered endorsement of the ICC's politically motivated actions is a slap in the face to our ally and every innocent Israeli still being held hostage.

We stand with the people of Israel and support their right to self-defense against terrorism. The actions taken by both the ICC and Justin Trudeau should be considered as a dangerous precedent that threatens global stability and the principles of international law.

Trudeau's statement is in stark with contrast with President Biden's statement which reads:

The ICC issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous. Let me be clear once again: whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas.  We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security. 

Aside from being an immoral affront, Trudeau's statement is also a diplomatic affront and sets a foolish precedent. If a democratically elected leader is subject to an arrest warrant, Trudeau might be vulnerable to the same if the ICC sees fit to rule that Canada is guilty of genocide against Indigenous Peoples. Trudeau should be careful of what he wishes.

If Netanyahu is to be held to account it should be by the Israeli people be during their next election, in their courts or by military inquiry. The ICC ruling suggests that Israel does not have the mechanisms by which to hold Netanyahu to account.

In the grand scheme of things, the ICC ruling against Netanyahu and Gallant, is yet another missile strike in the long international campaign to delegitimize Israel and expel it from the international community. Hopefully, Israel has a diplomatic iron dome which can withstand this international campaign of hatred against Jews.