France, which is under pressure over its stance on an international arrest warrant issued for Israel's prime minister, declined on Thursday to say whether it would be prepared to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin under a similar warrant.

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.

France says it intends to continue to work in close collaboration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu despite the arrest warrant issued for him by the world’s top war crimes court

British foreign minister David Lammy said on Wednesday he would continue to talk and meet with Benjamin Netanyahu after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against the Israeli prime minister for alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Provisions for immunity from prosecution at the International Criminal Court apply to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the French foreign ministry said Wednesday.

Israel is to lodge an appeal against the arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netanyahu's office said on Wednesday.

The Israeli government has officially notified the International Criminal Court (ICC) of its intention to appeal arrest warrants issued for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant over their roles in the Gaza conflict.

Israel plans to appeal the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister of war crimes.