125 ICC Member States Obliged to Arrest Netanyahu if He Enters Their Territory
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces international travel restrictions after the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in November 2024 remains in force.
A report by Zman Yisrael, the Hebrew-language edition of The Times of Israel, states that 125 countries that are ICC members are legally bound to arrest Netanyahu if he enters their territory.
The countries named in the report include several of Israel’s close Western allies, such as France, Britain, Germany and Canada.
The arrest warrant was issued by the ICC in connection with alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip since October 2023.
The court, based in The Hague, Netherlands, found Netanyahu responsible for the war crime of using starvation as a method of warfare, as well as crimes against humanity including murder, persecution and other inhumane acts.
The impact of the warrant has already been visible in Netanyahu’s foreign travel. The aircraft carrying him is said to have used alternative routes to avoid the airspace of ICC member states that might enforce the warrant.
Netanyahu has also avoided a number of international engagements taking place in ICC member states. One of these was the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Switzerland is an ICC member state, meaning the arrest warrant could be enforced if Netanyahu were on its territory.
Since the arrest warrant came into effect, Netanyahu has only been recorded visiting one ICC member state legally bound by the warrant, namely Hungary in April 2025.
The report assesses that the travel restrictions are not merely a diplomatic matter.
“If Netanyahu cannot visit most countries in the world, including most Western countries, it is impossible to view this as a ‘higher international standing’ — rather as international isolation,” the report stated, as quoted by Press TV on Wednesday (26/8).
Technically, Netanyahu can still travel to around 70 countries that are not ICC members. However, the report notes that most of these countries either do not have diplomatic relations with Israel or have strained relations with the country.
Meanwhile, the United States has increased pressure on the ICC after the court issued the arrest warrant against Netanyahu.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump’s administration is seeking to ‘dismantle’ the court.
Washington has also imposed sanctions on ICC officials involved in the investigation concerning Israel. In addition, the US is encouraging ICC member states to withdraw from the institution.
The institution stated that nine of its 18 judges, two deputy prosecutors, a former prosecutor and a member of staff are now subject to US sanctions.
The sanctions generally prohibit US citizens from conducting transactions with Akane and Seye, and effectively block both officials from accessing the US financial system.
The US has imposed sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane and Abdoulaye Seye. Foreign Minister Marco Rubio said this was to protect the sovereignty of US citizens.