"It is forbidden to shake hands with Netanyahu." Western newspapers: The decision of the International Criminal Court is an earthquake that shook the legal arenas in the world

Two British newspapers analyzed the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Galant, while experts and law professors revealed that the decision could lead to the severing of diplomatic relations with some of Israel's allies.

On Thursday, the International Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Galant, saying there were "reasonable grounds" to believe they had committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip. It also issued an arrest warrant for the commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Mohammed Deif.

Julian Borger, the Guardian's chief international correspondent, called the arrest warrants an "earthquake" that shook the world's legal arena, as it is the first time an international judicial body has charged a "Western ally of a modern democratic state" with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

He said in his analysis that the arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Galant will not have an immediate impact inside Israel, but may mobilize popular support for the prime minister. However, he believes that the “seriousness of the charges” against Netanyahu and Galant may weigh on them over time, reducing the area in which they operate on the globe, noting that the stigma of being accused of being war criminals is difficult to get rid of.

He claimed that the ICC judges' approval of the warrants would "forever" change the international judicial body's standing in the world, adding that the United States - which is not a member - rejected the two warrants and said it would coordinate with its partners, including Israel, on "next steps."

But the newspaper reported that the British government's decision was met with criticism from members of the Conservative Party who opposed the ICC investigations when they were in government and called on the court to drop it.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel was quoted as describing the memo as "disturbing and provocative", calling on the Labour government to condemn and challenge the court's decision.

The decision may lead to the severing of communications ties.

Experts and law professors revealed that the decision of the International Criminal Court may lead to the severing of diplomatic relations by some of Israel's allies simply because they are member states of the International Criminal Court. Some leaders may also refuse to shake hands or take pictures with the Israeli Prime Minister, and this may lead to military consequences.

According to statements by Professor Kelebogel Zvobgo, a professor of government at the College of William and Mary in the United States, quoted by Fox News, the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Galant could complicate arms transfers from European countries and member states of the court, which imposes laws that limit transfers in situations where there is reason to believe that a country will use them to commit crimes.

"We have already seen a Dutch court say that the Netherlands cannot send fighter jet parts to Israel. We have seen the termination or expiration of various arms contracts that the UK had," Zvobgo said.

The newspaper pointed out that these decisions came after the International Court of Justice began considering the case filed against Israel and the court's orders to stop any measures that could cause genocide.

“Even if the defendants do not end up in The Hague, Netanyahu does not set foot in the Netherlands, and he is not tried before the International Criminal Court, he will forever remain a person accused of crimes,” Zovobgo explained. “The charges will not disappear once the war is over, there is no statute of limitations for crimes.”

The impact of the decision on Netanyahu will extend to protocol, such as diplomats taking photos with Netanyahu or shaking his hand. “Even Israel’s allies in the ICC will face domestic pressure to cut off diplomatic contact with Netanyahu,” Rutgers University law professor Adil Haq told FoX .

"Not only can he not travel to Germany, but I would also be surprised if German leaders traveled to Israel and were photographed shaking hands with him and so on, or even talking to him electronically just because they are inside their country," he added.

The diplomatic consequences have already begun, with the Dutch foreign minister postponing a planned visit to Israel following the Netherlands' announcement that it would comply with the arrest warrant.

Source: Times + Guardian + FoX