ICC issues arrest warrants for Israel’s Netanyahu, Gallant, Hamas military commander

Srinagar, Nov 21: The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The ICC’s pre-trial chamber dismissed Israel’s objections to the court’s jurisdiction and found “reasonable grounds” to believe the three men bear responsibility for these crimes, reported the BBC.

The warrants are linked to the violence that erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. In retaliation, Israel launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza, which has resulted in over 44,000 deaths, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.

The ICC determined that Deif was likely involved in crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, and sexual violence, in connection with Hamas’s attacks. For Netanyahu and Gallant, the court found reasonable grounds to charge them with war crimes, such as using starvation as a method of warfare, as well as crimes against humanity, including murder and persecution, related to Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Israel has strongly condemned the warrants, with Netanyahu’s office calling the decision “antisemitic” and comparing it to the infamous Dreyfus affair. Israeli officials argue that the warrants disregard Israel’s right to self-defense. President Isaac Herzog described the ICC’s decision as “outrageous,” accusing the court of siding with terror and undermining justice.

Hamas, on the other hand, welcomed the warrants, calling them an important step in addressing historical injustices and crimes against Palestinians. The group urged countries worldwide to enforce the warrants and stop what it describes as Israeli genocide against civilians in Gaza.

While the ICC has jurisdiction over these matters, the enforcement of the warrants will depend on the 124 countries that are members of the court, though Israel and the United States are not among them. The ICC’s investigation is still ongoing, and there are complications regarding the status of Mohammed Deif, with Israel claiming he was killed in an airstrike in July, though the court has yet to confirm this.