ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, Deif for War Crimes in Gaza
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaz, Bloomberg reports.
The warrants, issued following a May application by the ICC’s chief prosecutor, cite charges including “starvation as a method of warfare, and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.” The Israeli government vehemently rejected the accusations, asserting that its military actions comply with international law. “Israel rejects the absurd and false actions and accusations by the ICC,” Netanyahu’s office stated. “No anti-Israel decision will prevent Israel from protecting its citizens.”
While the ICC does not allow trials in absentia, the warrants complicate Netanyahu’s travel to numerous Western allies, including the UK, France, Germany, and Canada, all of which are ICC signatories. However, the United States, Israel’s key ally, is not an ICC member, and President Biden previously termed the prosecutor’s move “outrageous.” President-elect Trump is expected to adopt a similarly critical stance, with some of his cabinet picks previously suggesting US sanctions against the ICC in response to such actions.
The conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, after a surprise Hamas attack on southern Israel resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 250 people. Israel’s subsequent offensive in Gaza has, according to the Hamas-run health authority, resulted in around 44,000 deaths, a figure that doesn’t differentiate between combatants and civilians. The conflict has devastated much of Gaza, triggering widespread protests in the US and Europe, and prompting UN bodies to warn of a severe humanitarian crisis. Aid organizations are struggling to provide sufficient assistance to the beleaguered population.
Israel actively lobbied against the warrants. Earlier this year, the ICC prosecutor’s office issued a statement condemning attempts to intimidate court officials, though it did not specifically name those responsible for the interference. It is important to note that the ICC’s jurisdiction is limited to states that have ratified its founding treaty; Israel, along with the US, China, and Russia, is not a signatory, while the State of Palestine is.
