PARIS - The French foreign ministry says it will continue to work closely with the Israeli prime minister due to the "friendship" between the two nations.

France said on Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has immunity from the arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC), marking a shift in stance that has been criticised by human rights groups.

The world's top war crimes court last week issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, his ex-defence minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas commander Mohammed Deif, accusing them of crimes against humanity and war crimes during Israel's 13-month war in Gaza.

Since then, French officials have said they would act "in line with the ICC’s statutes" although replied vaguely about whether the country would arrest Netanyahu or Gallant if they visited the country. France's PM Michel Barnier told parliament this week that Paris would "rigorously" respect its obligations under international law, a position echoed again by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot in a TV interview.