European Commissioner Meets Israeli Leaders Amid ICC Warrant Requests

European Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The meeting, which discussed key issues including the conflict with Hamas and regional strategic challenges, comes amid requests by the International Criminal Court for arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant over alleged war crimes.

European Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi met on Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, amid requests by the International Criminal Court's prosecutor for arrest warrants against them over alleged war crimes. "Honoured to meet Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss pressing issues in our bilateral relations, the war with Hamas, humanitarian assistance for the people in Gaza and strategic challenge for the region from Iran", Varhelyi said on social media platform X.

Asked whether European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had approved the meeting, a spokesperson said commissioners do not require prior approval for such a meeting. "The president trusts that he is conveying the EU position on all bilateral and regional issues to his interlocutors", the spokesperson added.

Varhelyi's cabinet did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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