The foreign ministry did not say outright that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel would be free to travel to France, but it argued that an I.C.C. rule on immunity may apply to him.

The French foreign ministry suggested Netanyahu may have immunity from arrest because Israel isn’t a signatory of the court’s founding treaty.

The French Foreign Ministry announced its belief that Israeli leaders whom the International Criminal Court have issued arrest warrants for over alleged war crimes in Gaza actually have “immunities” from such prosecution.

France said on Wednesday it believed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had immunity to actions by the International Criminal Court which is seeking his arrest for alleged war crimes in Gaza, given Israel has not signed up to the court statutes.

France has said that immunity for prosecution at the International Criminal Court (ICC) applies to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Provisions for immunity from prosecution at the International Criminal Court apply to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the French foreign ministry said Wednesday."Such immunities apply to Prime Minister Netanyahu and other ministers in question,

Paris says that while it respects the international justice system, Israel's leaders cannot be held accountable by The Hague as the country is not an ICC member

In a statement, the foreign ministry said France would 'respect its international obligations' but added that the Israeli leader was covered by immunity rules that apply to states that are not a party to the ICC.

French foreign ministry says it respects the decision of the court to issue arrest warrants but that the Israeli prime minister remains immune while in office

Israel has informed the International Criminal Court that it will appeal against arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant over their conduct of the Gaza war,