Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has declared that his government will arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits Canada, in compliance with the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant issued against him.
In an interview with Bloomberg Podcasts published on October 17, 2025, Carney firmly stated “yes” when asked whether Canada would honor the ICC warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest. He declined to offer further details on how such a process would unfold.
Carney also defended his decision to formally recognize a Palestinian state, describing it as a response to what he called the “deliberate actions” of Netanyahu’s government to eliminate any possibility of a two-state solution.
“The end goal is a free and viable Palestinian state living side by side, in peace and security, with the State of Israel,” Carney said.
He explained that since 1947, Canada’s policy has supported a two-state solution, but recent Israeli actions had “explicitly violated the UN Charter” and contradicted longstanding Canadian foreign policy.
The prime minister added that Canada’s recognition of Palestine was not meant to be a “game changer,” but rather a signal to preserve the fading hope of peace.
“We did this because the prospect was receding,” he noted.
Despite U.S. opposition to global moves recognizing Palestinian statehood, Carney said the ultimate goal remains aligned with international partners achieving lasting peace in the Middle East.
However, Israeli officials reacted sharply to Carney’s comments. Ophir Falk, a political advisor to Netanyahu, criticized the Canadian leader for “appeasing terrorism” and “betraying Canada’s traditional ally.”
Falk urged Carney to instead “welcome Prime Minister Netanyahu, the leader of the lone Jewish state and only democracy in the Middle East.”
The ICC issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Netanyahu and former Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of “criminal responsibility” for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.
The same warrants were issued for Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh for their roles in the October 7, 2023, terror attacks on Israel that killed about 1,200 civilians and left 251 people taken hostage.
Since then, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has led to tens of thousands of casualties, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry figures Israel disputes.
The Israeli government insists its operations comply with international law and accuses the ICC of political bias, arguing that the court has no jurisdiction because Israel is not a signatory to the Rome Statute.
Under the ICC’s rules, all member nations are required to arrest Netanyahu if he enters their territory.
Several countries including Belgium, Spain, South Africa, Norway, and Ireland have said they would enforce the warrant. Others, such as Hungary, Poland, and Argentina, have publicly refused.
Carney’s remarks put Canada among the countries ready to enforce international justice, a stance likely to strain relations between Ottawa and Jerusalem as diplomatic tensions over the war and Palestinian recognition continue to mount.