According to the Israeli newspaper The Times of Israel, the statement indicated that although Tel Aviv rejects the ICC’s ruling, it formally notified the court of its intention to present an appeal. The appeal, Netanyahu’s office claims, will demonstrate “how absurd and without foundation” the arrest warrants are.

The French Foreign Ministry suggested that Netanyahu may have immunity from arrest because Israel isn’t a signatory to the court’s founding treaty.

Arrest warrants were issued for Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, as well as a Hamas military leader, last week.