Judges at the International Criminal Court on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister , former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The crimes in question were committed as part of .
What do we know about the warrants?
against Netanyahu, Gallant and three Hamas leaders.
In its statement on Thursday, the court said of “the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts.”
It said it had reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Gallant bore “criminal responsibility” for deliberate attacks on the civilian population during Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
The ICC said “were often conditional” and “were not made to fulfill Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law.”
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The court said Israel’s acceptance of the court’s jurisdiction was not required for the warrants.
Israel is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, which is the founding treaty of the ICC.
The court recognized Palestinian statehood, which in turn recognized the court’s jurisdiction in 2015. Some .
ICC issues warrant against Hamas leader
The court also found it had “reasonable grounds” to believe that Mohammed Deif was responsible for crimes including murder, extermination, torture, rape, sexual violence and hostage-taking.
Deif was the highest commander of Hamas’ Qassam Brigades during the militant group’s to Gaza. , a claim Hamas has denied.
Khan had also requested warrants for the arrest of Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, but the application was withdrawn .
, was killed in the Iranian capital, Tehran in late July. in October.
Netanyahu condemns warrant for his arrest
In response to the ICC’s announcement, Israel’s prime minister has condemned the warrant against him. He said Israel “rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions” of the court.
“There is nothing more just than the war that Israel has been waging in Gaza,” Netanyahu said, according to the Israeli prime minister’s office.
It said Netanyahu will “not yield to pressure, will not be deterred, and will not retreat” until Israel’s war aims are achieved.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the ICC had “lost all legitimacy” after issuing the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant, describing them as “absurd orders without authority.”
“A dark moment for the International Criminal ‘Court’,” Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who replaced Gallant earlier this month, said in a post on the platform X.
Hamas has called on the ICC to “expand the scope of accountability” to all Israeli leaders.
International reactions
Meanwhile, the Netherlands said it was prepared to act upon the arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu, according to Dutch news agency ANP.
When asked by journalists about the Thursday announcement, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the ICC’s rulings should be respected.
said the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant are not political, and urged for the ICC’s decision to be respected and implemented.
sdi/kb (AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters)
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