Norway Declares Readiness to Arrest Netanyahu Over ICC War Crimes Warrant

TDT | Manama

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Norway has announced its readiness to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he travels to the Scandinavian country, in enforcement of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against him.

Andreas Kraavik, Norway’s Deputy Foreign Minister, made the statement amid growing international scrutiny of alleged war crimes committed during the conflict in Gaza. This marks a rare instance of a European nation publicly committing to act on an ICC arrest warrant targeting a sitting head of government.

The ICC issued arrest warrants in November 2024 against Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the use of starvation as a weapon against Gaza’s civilian population. Despite appeals by the Israeli government, the ICC upheld the warrants in the spring of 2025.

In addition to enforcing the ICC mandate, Norway has joined other countries in imposing sanctions on far-right Israeli ministers implicated in the Gaza conflict, which many international observers describe as genocidal.

Kraavik condemned the Israeli military actions in Gaza as “completely unacceptable,” highlighting attacks on schools, hospitals, journalists, and the deliberate imposition of hunger on civilians. “Norway is prepared to uphold international law and will arrest Prime Minister Netanyahu if he sets foot on Norwegian soil,” he stated firmly.

The declaration is expected to escalate diplomatic tensions between Norway and Israel, underscoring increasing global pressure on Israeli officials accused of serious violations during the Gaza conflict.