Netanyahu and Gallant face ICC arrest warrants over Gaza war crimes
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas officials, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in relation to the Gaza conflict and the October 2023 attacks, which triggered Israel’s offensive in Palestinian territory, according to the Associated Press.
“The Chamber issued arrest warrants for two individuals, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr. Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed at least from October 8, 2023, until at least May 20, 2024—the day the prosecution filed the requests for the warrants,” said the ICC in a statement, also adding in another release that a similar warrant had been issued for Mohammed Deif, the Hamas leader, who was later killed by the Israeli military.
The Chamber found that “there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population of Gaza of essential items for their survival, including food, water, medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity,” the three judges argued in their unanimous decision to issue warrants for Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant.
Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders condemned the request by ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan for the arrest warrants, calling it shameful and antisemitic. U.S. President Joe Biden also criticised the prosecutor and voiced support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas. Hamas welcomed the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes connected to the Gaza conflict.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell stated that the ICC’s arrest warrants against two high-ranking Israeli leaders and a Hamas leader were not “political.”
The ICC is a court of last resort that only pursues cases where national law enforcement authorities are either unable or unwilling to investigate.
Israel is not a member state of the Court. In the past, the country has failed to convince that it has the capacity to investigate itself, according to human rights groups.
Despite these warrants, none of the suspects will appear before the judges in The Hague anytime soon.
The Court itself does not have a police force to enforce the warrants, instead relying on the cooperation of its member states.
A similar warrant was issued in 2023 for Vladimir Putin for war crimes committed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Translaton by Iurie Tataru
