Rome:
G7 ministers meeting in Italy next week will discuss the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday, saying the issue required further analysis.
Israel and its allies on Thursday denounced the ICC's decision to issue an arrest warrant against the Israeli prime minister, while Turkey – and human rights groups – welcomed the move.
Meloni's far-right coalition government appeared divided.
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said on Thursday that Italy would have to arrest the Israeli prime minister if he visited, only if Meloni's deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, said Netanyahu would be welcome in Italy.
“In the coming days I will elaborate on the reasons that led to the ICC's decision. Reasons that must always be objective and not political in nature,” Meloni said in a statement.
She said the issue would be put on the agenda of a meeting of the Group of Seven foreign ministers in Fiuggi, near Rome, on Monday and Tuesday.
The ICC also issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu's former defense minister and Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif.
“One point remains clear from this government: there can be no equivalence between the responsibility of the State of Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas,” Meloni said.
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