ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister
Kyiv • UNN
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Gallant. The ICC also rejected Israel's appeal against the situation in Palestine.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the ICC said in a press release on its website, UNN reports.
Details
"Today, on November 21, 2024, the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court in the case concerning the situation in the State of Palestine unanimously issued two decisions dismissing the appeals of the State of Israel filed under Articles 18 and 19 of the Rome Statute. It also issued arrest warrants for Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr. Yoav Gallant," the ICC said in its statement.
As indicated in the ICC, the Chamber issued arrest warrants for these two individuals "for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024, the day the Prosecution filed the applications for warrants of arrest".
The ICC also reported that "today, on 21 November 2024, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (‘Court’), in its composition for the Situation in the State of Palestine, unanimously issued a warrant of arrest for Mr Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, commonly known as ‘Deif’, for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes committed on the territory of the State of Israel and the State of Palestine from at least 7 October 2023".
Addition
As the AP notes, the decision is "likely to further isolate them and complicate efforts to negotiate a ceasefire to end the 13-month-old conflict." But as the paper points out, its practical effects may be limited because Israel and its main ally, the United States, are not members of the court, and several Hamas officials have been killed during the conflict.
Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have denounced ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan's request for warrants as shameful and anti-Semitic. US President Joe Biden also criticized the prosecutor and expressed support for Israel's right to self-defense against Hamas. Hamas also criticized the request.
