Merz confirms he has invited Netanyahu to Germany despite ICC warrant

Friedrich Merz, Germany's incoming chancellor, has confirmed that he invited Benjamin Netanyahu for a visit despite an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.

The leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party held a phone call with Netanyahu hours after his party won the most votes in Germany's national election on Sunday.

"I think it is a completely absurd idea that an Israeli prime minister cannot visit the Federal Republic of Germany," Merz said during a press conference on Monday. 

He added that he told Netanyahu "that we would find ways and means for him to visit Germany and leave again without being arrested".

In November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, his former defence minister. 

The two were accused of "the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts" during Israel's ongoing war on Gaza, which began following the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023.

All 124 members of the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, are now compelled to arrest the two Israeli leaders and hand them over to the court. Germany is amongst the signatories.