Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated his government will arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he sets foot in Canada. The declaration commits Canada to enforcing an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued for Netanyahu over war crimes charges .
Carney confirmed this position during a recent interview, stating plainly that Canada would honor the ICC's warrant. He said Canada would act in line with international law and its own legal policy . When asked if he was prepared to arrest Netanyahu, Carney's reply was a direct "Yes" . He later reinforced this in a separate statement, saying his government "respects international law and the principle of accountability" .
The ICC, based in The Hague, issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant . The court accuses them of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the recent war in Gaza . The ICC recently rejected an appeal by Israel to suspend these warrants .
Canada is a signatory to the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the ICC . This membership legally obligates Canada to carry out arrest warrants issued by the court . Carney's statement frames the decision as a fulfillment of these binding international obligations, treating the ICC's order as it would any other from an international judicial body .
The Israeli government has reacted with strong criticism. A political adviser to Netanyahu, Ophir Falk, said Carney is "betraying" Israel and should reconsider . Falk argued that Israel's war in Gaza is a "just war by just means against a genocidal terrorist organization" . He also accused Canada of tolerating growing antisemitism, which he said has been worsened by Carney's policies . An Israeli government spokesperson publicly urged Carney to drop his pledge and welcome Netanyahu, whom she described as the leader of the only democratic country in the Middle East .
This development marks a sharp downturn in Canadian-Israeli relations. Carney, who became Prime Minister in January, has shifted Canada's foreign policy in the region . Last month, his government officially recognized a Palestinian state, a move that already angered Israel . Carney explained that recognition was a direct response to the Netanyahu government's actions, which he said were "explicitly designed to end any possibility of a state of Palestine" .
Tensions had been growing even before this arrest warrant announcement. In May, Canada summoned the Israeli ambassador after Israeli forces fired warning shots near a diplomatic delegation that included Canadians in Jenin . Carney called that incident "totally unacceptable" . More recently, Canada condemned an Israeli attack in Qatar and began a full evaluation of its relationship with Israel .
The pledge to arrest a sitting Israeli prime minister carries significant diplomatic risks. It may strain long-standing cooperation on security and intelligence between Ottawa and Jerusalem . The decision could also provoke domestic political backlash within Canada from groups who support Israel . Some analysts warn that while Canada asserts its international legal duty, enforcing the warrant against a sitting head of state is practically complex due to issues of diplomatic immunity .
Carney's position aligns Canada with the international court's process, even as it creates friction with a traditional ally. The situation shows the Canadian government's current priority is to uphold international law over diplomatic convenience . As the ICC continues its work, other nations that are party to the Rome Statute may face similar difficult choices .