Germany on Wednesday confirmed it would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he steps into the country.

Steffen Hebestreit, a spokesperson for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, confirmed the news on Wednesday. Hebestreit revealed that Germany would “abide by the law” and arrest Netanyahu if he steps into the country.

The latest development comes after Prosecutor Karim Khan of the International Criminal Court (ICC) formally requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Khan accused both men. Khan also requested arrest warrants for several high-ranking Hamas terrorists, including Yahya Sinwar, “political” leader Ismail Haniyeh, and the “commander-in-chief” of Hamas’s al-Qassam Brigades.

Prior to Hebestreit’s Wednesday revelation, Israel’s Ambassador to Berlin, Ron Prosor, made a passionate plea to the German government, urging it to reject the ICC’s proposed arrest.

“This is outrageous! The German ‘Staatsräson’ (Germany’s long-standing commitment to the defense of Israel) is now being put to the test—no ifs or buts,” Prosor wrote in an X post. “This contrasts with the weak statements we hear from some institutions and political actors. The public statement that Israel has the right to self-defense loses credibility if our hands are tied as soon as we defend ourselves. The Chief Prosecutor equates a democratic government with Hamas, thereby demonizing and delegitimizing Israel and the Jewish people. He has completely lost his moral compass. Germany has a responsibility to readjust this compass. This disgraceful political campaign could become a nail in the coffin for the West and its institutions. Do not let it come to that!”

President Joe Biden’s White House also issued a statement blasting Khan’s request as outrageous.

“The ICC prosecutor’s application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous. And let me be clear: whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security,” the statement, which was signed by President Joe Biden, read.

A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned Khan’s action, noting that “it is not helpful in relation to reaching a pause in the fighting, getting hostages out or getting humanitarian aid in.”

The spokesperson suggested that the UK would not arrest Netanyahu if he stepped into the country because the ICC has no jurisdiction to make the arrest request within the UK.

Austrian chancellor Karl Nehammer also suggested that his country might break with Germany.

“We fully respect the independence of the ICC,” Nehammer said. “The fact however that the leader of the terrorist organization Hamas whose declared goal is the extinction of the State of Israel is being mentioned at the same time as the democratically elected representatives of that very State is non-comprehensible.”

https://x.com/geertwilderspvv/status/1793683335241470418