Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said
Saturday that it is "absurd" to put Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu on the same level as Hamas after the
International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for
him for alleged war crimes.
The ICC also issued warrants for former Israeli defence minister
Yoav Gallant and Hamas's military chief Mohammed Deif over the
October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and the subsequent Gaza war.
"The government's position is that we will study in depth the
explanation of the sentence, which, at first glance, seems more
political than technical," said Crosetto.
"But the thing that struck me the most, and which I said from
the start, is that we found it unacceptable and absurd to equate
the leaders of a terrorist organisation that attacked innocent
people with those who legitimately lead a democratic state and
are defending themselves".
Crosetto's words echoed statements made by Premier Giorgia
Meloni on Friday.
Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has said that
Italy would decide with its Group of Seven (G7) allies on Monday
what position to take regarding the ICC arrest warrants.
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