Germany's next chancellor pledges to invite Netanyahu despite ICC arrest warrant

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on Monday that he had congratulated Germany’s Friedrich Merz on his election victory. According to the statement, Merz expressed gratitude and pledged to invite Netanyahu for an official visit to Germany.

Netanyahu’s office framed the invitation as a “blatant defiance” of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to classify him as a war criminal, dismissing the charges as “outrageous”.

Germany, as a signatory to the Rome Statute, is legally obligated to comply with ICC rulings, including the arrest of individuals wanted for war crimes. Hosting Netanyahu despite the ICC's decision would directly undermine its commitments under international law.