The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of involvement in war crimes during the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The court’s statement, released on Thursday, alleges that the two men were responsible for war crimes including the use of starvation as a method of warfare, murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.
The ICC found reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant intentionally targeted civilian populations while acting as civilian superiors.
The charges, which relate to events occurring between October 8, 2023, and May 20, 2024, were initially kept secret to protect the investigation and witnesses.
However, the ICC made the decision to publicize the warrants, noting that the ongoing nature of the situation necessitated transparency for the victims and their families.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog responded to the ruling, calling it “outrageous” and accusing the ICC of turning “universal justice into a universal laughingstock.”
In addition to the warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, the ICC also issued a warrant for Mohammed Al-Masri, known as ‘Deif,’ the leader of Hamas’ military wing.
The charges against Deif include murder, torture, taking hostages, and sexual violence. Although there were initial petitions for the arrest of other Hamas leaders, including Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh, the ICC withdrew these after confirming their deaths.
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Hamas, for its part, welcomed the warrants, describing them as a “historical correction” in the face of long-standing injustice.
The United States, a key ally of Israel, has rejected the ICC’s decision, further complicating the already fraught international response to the charges.
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