Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu invited his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to Bucharest despite an international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Romania is one of the 125 countries that have signed the ICC’s Rome Statute, whereas Netanyahu faces arrest for “crimes against humanity” related to military action in Gaza. Hence, the Romanian authorities are obliged to arrest him as soon as he arrives in the country.
In November, former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants against Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant was binding on all member states.
A few days later, however, France said it believed Netanyahu was immune from ICC action, as Israel was not a signatory to the court’s statute. Subsequently, Poland said Netanyahu would have immunity from arrest if he visited the Auschwitz memorials.
On Sunday, Ciolacu welcomed the release of the first group of three hostages from Gaza after the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas came into force. Two of the freed hostages, Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher, are of Romanian origin.
On 17 October 2023, Ciolacu became the first foreign leader to visit Israel since the Hamas attack.
