ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant
The International Criminal Court, after months of deliberation, announced today that it is issuing international arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister and former defence minister, alleging war crimes.
The Chamber issued warrants of arrest for two individuals, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024”, a statement from the court said.
There are “reasonable grounds” to believe that Gallant and Netanyahu “intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity”, the statement continued, covering only part of the allegations against them.
The court also rejected two Israeli challenges to its jurisdiction, saying “the acceptance by Israel of the Court’s jurisdiction is not required, as the Court can exercise its jurisdiction on the basis of territorial jurisdiction of Palestine”.
ICC also issues arrest warrant for Hamas’s Mohammed Deif
In a separate statement, the International Criminal Court also said Deif, full name Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, is subject to international arrest.
The court said it “unanimously” decided to issue the warrant against him “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”.
The alleged crimes include firing rockets at Israeli territory and the October 7 attacks that killed at least 1,139 Israelis.
Israel claims to have killed Deif, the longtime leader of Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, in an air strike this past July. That attack on a designated safe zone had struck tents housing displaced Palestinians and a water distillation plant, killing at least 90 people and wounding 300 others.
New pre-trial judge at ICC issues arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders
The Court just issued three arrest warrants: two for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and one for Hamas leader Mohammed Deif for crimes against humanity and war crimes.
There had been some serious delays, there were a lot of questions about whether the ICC was capable of doing so. Israel has tried to avoid this by filing all kinds of complaints, but the ICC has now decided to reject these.
There is a new presiding judge of the pre-trial chamber that was issuing these warrants. The previous presiding judge recently stepped down after informing the court of a medical issue, after months of investigating the case.
Very quickly after the previous judge stepped down this decision has now been taken.
Israelis will have to deal with ICC fallout as Gaza killing continues
Over the last several months when all of this was being floated, Israel did its best to discredit the ICC. It tried to challenge its jurisdiction, and Israeli politicians internally were doing everything they could to fight the potential ruling.
But the Israelis now have to deal with this. The reality on the ground in Gaza is why this has happened. You’re looking at a war that is 410 days long, in which more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed. According to international courts, and now the ICC, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant need to be held responsible.
