International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for Israeli PM, Hamas official
ICC also issues arrest warrant for recently resigned Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas official Mohammed Deif (Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri). The warrants pertain to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed since October 7, 2023, following Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel.
Since the start of the conflict, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of nearly 44,000 people and displaced nearly the entire population of the enclave at least once. The ICC alleges intentional deprivation of essential resources such as food, water, medicine, and fuel to the civilian population in Gaza.
This decision designates Netanyahu and others as internationally wanted individuals, potentially complicating ceasefire negotiations and isolating them further. However, enforcement may be challenging, as Israel and its primary ally, the United States, are not ICC members, and the court relies on cooperation from its member states. Furthermore, several Hamas officials, including Deif, are believed to have been killed during the ongoing conflict, though Deif’s death has not been independently verified.
The ICC acts as a court of last resort, prosecuting cases when domestic systems fail to investigate or take action. Critics have questioned the ICC’s jurisdiction in this matter. The Israeli Foreign Ministry has argued that Israel, with its independent legal system, was denied the opportunity to address these allegations domestically before the warrants were issued.
Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have denounced the warrants as antisemitic and politically motivated. Hamas has also criticized the ICC's actions. U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed disapproval of the warrants, emphasizing Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas. Trudeau specifically criticized what he described as an equivalence drawn between Israel’s democratically elected leaders and Hamas, which he referred to as "bloodthirsty terrorists."
The ICC warrants have sparked global debate, reflecting the broader challenges of addressing accountability and justice in protracted conflicts.
