The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, citing alleged war crimes.
On Thursday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague declared that it has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. They are accused of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the Gaza conflict.
A warrant has also been issued for Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif on similar charges.
The court charges Netanyahu and Gallant with employing starvation as a method of warfare, alleging they intentionally deprived Gaza’s civilian population of crucial supplies such as food, water, and medicine.
Prosecutors argue that these actions lacked “any clear military necessity” and constitute violations of international law.
Both Israeli politicians could be arrested if they visit any of the 123 countries that are signatories to the ICC’s Rome Statute.
These charges are part of a wider investigation by the ICC, which also examines alleged crimes committed by Hamas during its attacks on Israel on October 7.
Prosecutors have charged Deif, identified as the mastermind behind the attack, with murder, torture, and hostage-taking. Israel alleges that it eliminated Deif in an airstrike earlier this year; however, Hamas has not verified his death.
The move prompted swift criticism. Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett described the ICC warrants as a “mark of shame,” whereas opposition leader Yair Lapid referred to the decision as “a reward for terrorism.”
The Israeli government has persistently denied allegations of committing war crimes and does not accept the court’s jurisdiction. Similarly, countries like the United States and Russia do not recognize the authority of the ICC.
READ ALSO: Netanyahu Urges UN to Relocate Lebanon Peacekeepers for Their Safety
Israel has contested the ICC’s jurisdiction, arguing that it was not afforded the chance to conduct its own internal investigations into the allegations. Netanyahu’s administration has characterized actions by The Hague as politically motivated interference and dismissed them accordingly.
In Washington, John Thune, the incoming Republican Senate Majority Leader, has warned of potential sanctions against the ICC. He reflected sentiments from legislation previously approved by the House and stated, “If the ICC does not reverse this outrageous action, it is imperative for the Senate to impose sanctions on them.”
Other Republican lawmakers, such as Senator Susan Collins, promised to stand by Israel and advocate for disciplinary actions against the ICC.
In May, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan first sought arrest warrants, accusing Israel of extensive violations during its military actions against Hamas. The court stated that its Pre-Trial Chamber identified “reasonable grounds” to believe the accused were accountable for crimes against humanity, such as persecution and inhumane acts.
The previous year, the ICC released comparable warrants for the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, Russia’s Children’s Rights Commissioner.
