ICC issues arrest warrant for Israeli PM for alleged for crimes in Gaza
- 21 November, 12:07
The international criminal court, ICC, has issued arrest warrants for the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former defence minister Yoav Gallant and the Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes committed in Gaza.
It is the first time that leaders of a democracy and western-aligned state have been charged by the court, in the most momentous decision of its 22-year history.
Both Netanyahu and Gallant could face arrest if they visit any of the 124 countries that are signatories to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC.
The chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant hold criminal responsibility as co-perpetrators for "the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare," as well as for crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.
The three-judge panel also determined that there were sufficient grounds to believe Deif was responsible for crimes against humanity and war crimes, such as murder, torture, rape, and hostage-taking, related to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 last year, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths, primarily among Israeli civilians, and 250 kidnappings.
Netanyahu's office condemned the chamber's ruling as "antisemitic," stating, "Israel completely rejects the false and absurd charges of the ICC, a biased and politically motivated institution." The office asserted that “no war is more just than the one Israel is conducting in Gaza."
Additionally, the statement referenced an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, who initiated the charges against the three men in May. Khan, who has denied the allegations, stated he would cooperate with the investigation.
“No outrageous anti-Israel decision will deter us – and it will not prevent me – from defending our country in all possible ways. We will not succumb to pressure,” Netanyahu complained in a video address.
Washington rejected ICC’s ruling over the Israeli officials, with the US National Security Council stating that "We remain deeply concerned by the prosecutor’s rush to pursue arrest warrants and the troubling procedural errors that led to this ruling.
The US has previously shown support for ICC war crimes warrants against Russian officials, including Vladimir Putin, for actions committed in Ukraine, which has led to accusations of double standards from various UN members, particularly those from the Global South.
