ICC arrest requests show it is ‘scrutinising both sides’ leadership’
Israel and Hamas have both criticised the ICC chief prosecutor for requesting arrest warrants for their leaders, accusing him of making a false equivalency between the two sides.
However, former ICC official Eric Witte says that the decision does not imply that the actions of each side’s leaders are equal but that they will be “equally scrutinised under the law”.
To maintain credibility and pursue justice for all victims of the war – including Israeli captives and Palestinians in Gaza – it is “important for [the prosecutor] to show that he is scrutinising actions of leadership on both sides”, Witte told Al Jazeera
“It’s impossible to compare the two,” he added. “But what we can say is that victims on both sides are deeply deserving of justice, accountability … and the broader international community has an interest in seeing standards upheld.
“There are standards even during wartime. Even if you feel your cause is justified, it doesn’t mean that you can use any means whatsoever to pursue that cause.”
ICC’s Khan is trying to stop Israel from defending itself: Gallant
Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant says ICC prosecutor Karim Khan’s “attempt to deny the State of Israel the right to defend itself and release its abductees must be rejected outright”.
Gallant claimed in a post on X that Khan is trying to flip the facts but will not succeed in doing so.
“The prosecutor’s parallel between the terrorist organisation Hamas and the State of Israel is despicable and disgusting,” he said, adding that his country is not a party to the court and does not recognise its authority.
Israel framing ICC arrest warrants request as ‘attack’ on its sovereignty
There is one consistent message, and you heard it from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He says that this is an attack against Israel. And it has united Israel in many aspects. Even the leader of the opposition, who is very critical of Netanyahu, called this an attack against Israel.
But there’s also something else going on right now: the response to all of this. Already we’ve seen meetings from legal experts from the National Security Agency of Israel, plus the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
They’re reaching out to their allies within the international community, particularly the US, which is likely why you heard President Joe Biden come to the defence of Israel. So that’s likely what the strategy for the Israelis will be when it comes to combatting this – they simply want this just to go away.
Lapid says Netanyahu should entertain Palestinian statehood to dodge ICC prosecution
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has proposed that PM Netanyahu engage in normalisation talks with Saudi Arabia, including considering a pathway to Palestinian statehood, saying such moves could deter the ICC from pursuing war crimes charges against him.
“Netanyahu should announce that he has entered into negotiations with the Saudis, including the Palestinian component,” Lapid told Army Radio.
“In The Hague, they will not prosecute a PM who is in the middle of a historic peace process. This will solve the Hague [problem] for us and the [issue of] the day-after in Gaza‚ and it will help us mobilise the Saudis to apply pressure regarding the issue of the hostages,” said Lapid.
Over the weekend, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan travelled to Saudi Arabia and Israel to push for an Israeli-Saudi normalisation deal, conditioned on Israel’s acceptance of a pathway to Palestinian statehood.
The Times of Israel reported the proposal appeared to be a “non-starter” in Israel, with Netanyahu again rejecting it.
Israel needs new leadership, Netanyahu needs to go.
Israel urges ‘civilised nations’ to spurn any ICC warrants against its leaders
Israel has urged “nations of the civilised world” to oppose the ICC prosecutor’s request for arrest warrants against its leaders and to declare they would not honor any such warrants.
Asked if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Defence Minister Yoav Gallant would avoid travelling to ICC-signatory countries in the event arrest warrants are issued against them, government spokesperson Tal Heinrich said, “Let’s wait and see.”
Comparing Israeli PM to Hamas leaders ‘unacceptable’: Polish PM
Poland’s prime minister has criticised a request by an International Criminal Court prosecutor for arrest warrants for both Israeli and Hamas leaders.
“An attempt to show that the prime minister of Israel and the leaders of terrorist organisations are the same, and the involvement of international institutions in this, is unacceptable,” Donald Tusk told a news conference.
Biden admin will work with Congress on response to ICC prosecutor request
Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the administration of US President Joe Biden would be happy to work with lawmakers to formulate “an appropriate response” to the International Criminal Court prosecutor seeking to issue arrest warrants on Israeli leaders over the Gaza war.
Speaking at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Blinken called the move “a profoundly wrong-headed” decision that would complicate the prospects of reaching a deal on negotiations to achieve a hostage deal and a ceasefire, reiterating his initial reaction to the news yesterday.
That nonsense again, you don't want a deal. You just want Gaza to go back out of the news.
France, Belgium and Slovenia say they support ICC move
France, Belgium and Slovenia released statements supporting the world’s top criminal court and its chief prosecutor’s request for arrest warrants for leaders of Israel and Hamas.
“France supports the International Criminal Court, its independence, and the fight against impunity in all situations,” its Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Belgium Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib posted on X, “Crimes committed in Gaza must be prosecuted at the highest level, regardless of the perpetrators,” along with a statement.
“War crimes and crimes against humanity committed on the territory of Israel and Palestine from at least October 7 must be prosecuted independently and impartially regardless of the perpetrators,” Slovenia’s Foreign Ministry said on X.
“Accountability is crucial to prevent atrocities and to guarantee peace,” the ministry said.
