Germany ponders next steps after ICC's surprise move against Netanyahu

German government officials are taking a wait-and-see approach to ICC warrants: the situation wont need immediate action until Benjamin Netanyahu plans a visit to the country (his last trip was about 1.5 years ago)

The government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit discussed legal complexities saying: “arrests on this basis seem hard to imagine.“ German weapons support to Israel — which started after Hamas attack last fall — stays unchanged with each delivery getting separate review

Annalena Baerbock German foreign minister spoke at climate summit in Baku and pointed out that her country follows rules at many levels: national european‚ and international. She noted that Netanyahuʼs possible EU visit remains a what-if scenario

Germanyʼs connection to Israel has deep roots — its based on taking responsibility for Holocaust when nazis killed 6 million Jewish people. This link shaped modern German politics‚ with former leader Angela Merkel making Israeli security central to German policy. Current chancellor Olaf Scholz keeps supporting this view

The german-ICC relationship shows interesting contrast: Berlin helped write ICC rules and gives lots of support to the court but also has special bond with Israel thats linked to its past. Hebestreit explained this dual position — backing ICC while having unique ties to Israel