Finland Reiterates Commitment To International Law, Stresses International Criminal Court's Role In Combatting Impunity

Finland reiterated Friday its commitment to international law and stressed the International Criminal Court's role in combatting impunity.

"Applying for several warrants of arrest conjointly in the same investigation is a standard legal practice. Therefore, it cannot be viewed as equating the leaders of Israel and Hamas. A parallel between democratically elected government leaders and the leadership of a terrorist organization would be unacceptable," Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said in a statement, in reference to the ICC prosecutor's decision to apply for warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, defense chief Yoav Gallan, and three Hamas leaders.

He added: "Finland stands by the ICC as an independent and impartial court of law. The ICC must be allowed to carry out its mandate without fear or favor."

ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan applied for arrest warrants Monday for the Israeli and Hamas leaders for "war crimes and crimes against humanity" committed in Israel and the Gaza Strip.

At least 35,800 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 80,200 others injured since October following an attack by Hamas.

More than seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine. -