The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday (November 21) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense chief, as well as a Hamas leader believed dead, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict.

In their decision, the ICC judges said there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Gallant were criminally responsible for acts including murder, persecution and starvation as a weapon of war as part of a "widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza".

Judges said there were also reasonable grounds to believe the blockade on Gaza and lack of food, water, electricity, fuel and medical supplies "created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza, which resulted in the death of civilians, including children, due to malnutrition and dehydration".

The warrant for Ibrahim Al-Masri - thought to have been killed in an airstrike in July - lists charges of mass killings during the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel that triggered the Gaza war, and also charges of rape and the taking of hostages.

The decision was met with outrage in Israel, which called it shameful and absurd. But what has been the reaction globally?

China - "China hopes the ICC will uphold an objective and just position (and) exercise its powers in accordance with the law," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said. China, which like Israel and the United States is not a member of the ICC, said it "supports any efforts by the international community on the Palestinian issue that are conducive to achieving fairness and justice and upholding the authority of international law".

U.S. - "The ICC issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous," US President Joe Biden said in a statement. "Let me be clear once again: whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence - none - between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security."

UK - An official government statement said: "We respect the independence of the International Criminal Court (ICC) which is the primary international institution for investigating and prosecuting the most serious crimes of international concern…..There is no moral equivalence between Israel, a democracy, and Hamas and Lebanese Hizballah, which are terrorist organizations."

France - Foreign Ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine said in a statement: "France takes note of this decision. True to its long-standing commitment to supporting international justice, it reiterates its attachment to the independent work of the Court, in accordance with the Rome Statute." 

Germany - Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said: "We are now of course examining exactly what that means for implementation in Germany." Whether German authorities would move to arrest Netanyahu or Gallant is currently "theoretical", Baerbock added.

Türkiye - The ICC's decision "is a belated but positive decision to stop the bloodshed and put an end to the genocide in Palestine," Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said on X.

EU - Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said: "It is a decision of a court, of a court of justice, of an international court of justice. And the decision of the court has to be respected and implemented."

Italy - Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said his country would be obliged to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they visited, although he added he believed the ICC was "wrong" to put Netanyahu on the same level as Hamas. 

Spain - Official sources said the country "respects the decision and will conform to its commitments and obligations in compliance with the Rome Statute and international law".

Jordan - Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the ICC rulings should be respected and implemented, adding that "Palestinians deserve justice".

South Africa - "These actions mark a significant step towards justice for crimes against humanity and war crimes in Palestine," read an official statement.

Hungary - Prime Minister Viktor Orban said: "There is no choice here, we have to defy this decision…. I will invite the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Netanyahu, to visit Hungary, where I will guarantee him, if he comes, that the judgment of the International Criminal Court will have no effect in Hungary, and that we will not follow its terms."

Argentina - President Javier Milei posted on social media platform X his "deep disagreement" with the decision, which "ignores Israel's legitimate right to self-defense against the constant attacks by terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah."

Norway - "It is important that the ICC carries out its mandate in a judicious manner. I have confidence that the court will proceed with the case based on the highest fair trial standards," Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said.

Sweden - Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said: "Sweden and the EU support the important work of the court and safeguard its independence and integrity." 

Belgium - "The fight against impunity wherever crimes are committed is a priority for Belgium, which fully supports the work of the (ICC)", Belgium's foreign ministry said on X. "Those responsible for crimes committed in Israel and Gaza must be prosecuted at the highest level, regardless of who committed them."