The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes related to the Gaza war. This historic decision marks the first time leaders of a democracy have been charged by the court.
The court found reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Gallant bore criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including starvation as a method of warfare. Deif was also accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes relating to a Hamas attack that killed over 1,200 people.
The US criticized the decision, with President Joe Biden describing the warrants as “outrageous.” Israel denounced the charges as “antisemitic” and rejected them as false and absurd. Human rights groups welcomed the warrants, saying they break the perception that certain individuals are beyond the reach of the law.
Despite the rejection of ICC jurisdiction by Israel, the court noted that Palestine had been recognized as a member in 2015, allowing investigations into crimes on Palestinian territory. The warrants could increase external pressure on Netanyahu’s government as the US seeks a ceasefire in Israel’s conflict with Hamas.
The arrest warrants come at a sensitive time for ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, who is facing an investigation into claims of sexual misconduct. This development could have broader implications for international justice and accountability.
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