ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant and Deif of Hamas

Court finder “reasonable grounds to believe” that the two “are each criminally liable for the following crimes as co-perpetrators for the commission of acts in common with others: the war crime of starvation as a method of war; and crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts.”

Israel’s former ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, called it an “absurd decision” and said it “highlights the broken and immoral international system that encourages terrorists and radical regimes while tying the hands of democracies trying to defend themselves . It is time to shape a new international system, led by countries committed to Western values, freedom and the fight against terror.”

Israel’s war against Hamas, now in its 13th month, has divided countries on the world stage, with Israel further isolated as its military efforts have killed more than 40,000 Palestinians and displaced more than million and have not yet resulted in release. of the remaining Israeli hostages.

In May, the ICC announced its intention to file arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant and several Hamas leaders. Hamas leaders for whom the ICC has sought warrants are believed to have been killed in the war, such as Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh and Mohammed Deif. It issued a warrant for Deif only because prosecutors “indicated they will continue to gather information regarding his reported death.”

Israeli forces are believed to have killed all three Hamas leaders in separate attacks.

Hamas’ terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, which killed an estimated 1,200 people and kidnapped another 250, began the current iteration of the struggle. Hamas is still holding around 100 hostages, which it has held for more than 13 months.

Court finder that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that Deif “is responsible for the crime against humanity; extermination; torture; and rape and other forms of sexual violence; as well as the war crimes of murder, cruel treatment, torture; taking hostages; violations of personal dignity; and rape and other forms of sexual violence.”

Over the past year, Israeli forces have carried out a massive campaign of aerial bombardment and a ground invasion throughout the Gaza Strip. Almost the entire population of Gaza faces dire humanitarian situations, with limited food, clean water and medical supplies.

There were “reasonable grounds” to believe that “both (Netanyahu and Gallant) willfully and knowingly deprived the civilian population of Gaza of items indispensable to their survival, including food, water and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity”. the court added, finding that there were “two incidents that qualified as attacks that were intentionally directed against civilians.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called on Israel to do more to ensure humanitarian aid reaches Palestinians in Gaza in a letter last month, warning that failure to address the situation “could have implications for US policy”.

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However, Biden administration officials have said they do not believe that the ICC has jurisdiction over the conflict, nor do they believe that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians. Several members of Congress from both parties shared a similar sentiment.

Israel is not a member of the court, and neither is the United States, although any arrest warrants would limit their travel abroad and further isolate Israel on the world stage.