The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of crimes against humanity and war crimes. The tribunal in The Hague made the announcement Thursday.
The ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I stated that the charges pertain to alleged crimes committed between October 8, 2023, and May 20, 2024, when the prosecution submitted its warrant application.
According to the court, Netanyahu and Gallant are accused of the war crime of using starvation as a method of warfare and crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.
Additionally, the court found reasonable grounds to believe that both leaders bear responsibility for deliberately targeting civilians in at least two documented incidents. The ICC’s Chief Prosecutor, Karim Khan, provided evidence to support these allegations.
Jerusalem’s attempts to challenge the ICC’s jurisdiction were dismissed. The court asserted its authority based on the Palestinian Authority’s membership in the tribunal. It further ruled that states cannot contest jurisdiction before issuing arrest warrants.
In a related decision, the ICC also ordered the arrest of Mohammed Deif, the supreme commander of Hamas’s military wing. Israeli forces previously reported that Deif was killed in an airstrike on July 13, but the ICC stated there is substantial evidence to suggest his involvement in planning the October 7, 2023, attacks.
These attacks, known as Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 civilians, thousands of injuries, and the abduction of 251 individuals who were taken into Gaza. The ICC noted that Deif, along with other senior Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh, likely coordinated the operation.
The arrest warrants reflect the ICC’s ongoing efforts to address alleged violations of international law during the escalating Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both Israel and Hamas have faced widespread scrutiny over their actions in the region.
