Israel’s Foreign Ministry has cautioned about potential arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) targeting top Israeli leaders.
The ministry alerted Israeli missions to the risk of senior political and military officials being targeted abroad. The ICC, based in The Hague, Netherlands, has remained silent on these rumours and has not officially informed Israel of any warrant issuance in its investigation into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The ICC launched a probe three years ago into alleged war crimes by Israel and Palestinian militants during the 2014 Israel-Hamas war.
Israel faced accusations of targeting Red Cross installations and establishing settlements in the West Bank.
Conversely, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups were accused of deliberately attacking civilians and using them as human shields.
The investigation’s complexity has increased with the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where both Israel and Hamas are accused of repeated war crimes. Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice is examining allegations of Israeli genocide in Gaza, particularly concerning the high civilian death toll.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vehemently criticized the court’s investigations, asserting Israel’s right to self-defence.
He condemned any attempts by the ICC to undermine Israel’s sovereignty, stating that Israel “will never accept” such actions. Netanyahu’s stance reflects Israel’s and the US’s rejection of the ICC’s jurisdiction.
Despite Israel and the US rejecting the ICC’s jurisdiction, Israeli leaders could face risks if they travel to any of the 124 nations recognizing the court. In an op-ed to The Post, Douglas Murray highlighted the possibility of ICC prosecutor Karim Khan seeking arrest warrants for several Israeli leaders, including Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
If such warrants are issued, Netanyahu would join Russian President Vladimir Putin as a prominent world leader wanted for alleged war crimes. The potential consequences of these warrants could have significant diplomatic ramifications and further exacerbate tensions in the region.
The situation underscores the ongoing complexities and challenges surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. With no resolution in sight and international legal proceedings looming, the prospects for peace remain uncertain. As Israel prepares for potential ICC actions, the global community closely monitors developments in one of the world’s most enduring and contentious conflicts.
