Slovenia bars Netanyahu entry over ICC warrant and ICJ ruling

Slovenia on Thursday declared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu persona non grata and barred him from entering the country, a move Ljubljana said was prompted by international legal developments tied to Israel's conduct in Gaza. The foreign ministry linked the measure directly to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in November 2024 charging Netanyahu with alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, and to a July 2024 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice that characterized Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory as unlawful.

State Secretary Neva Grasic told reporters the decision follows the ongoing legal proceedings against Netanyahu and cited obligations that she said rest on states bound by international tribunals. The Slovenian government, in a statement on its official social media account, said the action "is not aimed against the people of Israel but, rather, sends a clear message to the State of Israel that Slovenia expects consistent implementation of decisions issued by international tribunals and respect of international humanitarian law."

Ljubljana has taken several steps over the past year that reflect a...