Arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity” in Gaza may force Western nations selling arms to Israel to reconsider their trade agreements, experts suggest. The warrants were issued amidst Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, where over 44,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, 2023. All 124 countries signatories to the Rome Statute of the ICC are now obligated to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they enter their territory. The issue of whether countries supplying arms to a nation whose leaders are accused of crimes against humanity could be considered complicit remains uncertain, but experts believe some suppliers will need to carefully consider their support for Israel’s actions in Gaza.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), between 2019 and 2023, Israel was the 15th largest importer of arms globally, with major suppliers including the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Spain. The United States alone provided 69 percent of Israel’s weapons during that period. Other countries like Canada, Australia, and Italy also exported arms to Israel.
The United States, despite not being a signatory to the Rome Statute of the ICC, has shown no intention of reducing or halting arms sales to Israel, with recent plans to send advanced missile defense systems and soldiers to operate them. Germany, on the other hand, saw a tenfold increase in arms exports to Israel in 2023, mostly naval equipment. The UK suspended some arms export licenses over concerns about their use in military operations in Gaza.
Countries like France, Italy, Spain, and Canada have taken steps to restrict or suspend arms sales to Israel following the conflict in Gaza. The ICC arrest warrants have raised questions about the complicity of Western nations in potential war crimes if they continue to supply weapons to Israel. Experts believe that these warrants could lead to more embargoes on arms exports to Israel by Western countries, as the use of these weapons in alleged crimes against humanity could implicate the suppliers as well.