NBC News reported on Monday that the International Criminal Court (ICC) may potentially charge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials with war crimes, leading to possible arrest warrants being issued as early as the following week.
An Israeli official mentioned by the American network stated that warrants could be forthcoming for Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and other high-ranking military figures, with Israel reportedly attempting to prevent the warrants through diplomatic means.
Israeli media sources have indicated that army chief Herzl Halevi is one of the military officials who may face charges in relation to the ICC’s investigation into alleged war crimes committed by the Israeli military and Palestinian militant groups in the West Bank and Gaza since 2014.
The ICC, in response to the report, neither confirmed nor denied the potential issuance of warrants, citing an ongoing independent investigation concerning the situation in the State of Palestine and declining to provide further comments at this time.
The ICC’s investigation, initiated in 2021, focuses on alleged war crimes committed during the month-long conflict between Israel and Hamas in 2014, while a separate case involving South Africa’s accusations of genocide against Israel is currently being heard by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Both the ICC and ICJ, located in The Hague, operate under different mandates, with the ICC responsible for prosecuting individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the ‘crime of aggression’, while the ICJ resolves disputes between nations as a United Nations organ.
Despite the possibility of an ICC warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest, it is unlikely that he would be brought to trial in The Hague, as Israel, along with other major powers like the US, Russia, and China, is not a signatory to the Rome Statute and does not acknowledge the court’s jurisdiction.
In the event that the International Criminal Court (ICC) decides to issue a warrant for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, it is improbable that he will be extradited to The Hague for trial. Israel, similar to countries such as the United States, Russia, and China, is not a signatory to the Rome Statute and therefore does not acknowledge the authority of the court.
Nevertheless, if a warrant is issued, Netanyahu could potentially face the risk of arrest if he travels to any of the 124 nations that do recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC. Following reports of a possible charge for war crimes, Netanyahu vehemently stated that Israel will not allow the ICC to undermine its right to self-defense.
Netanyahu’s response to the situation was firm, asserting that any attempt to seize Israeli soldiers or officials is unacceptable. He emphasized that Israel, as the sole democracy in the Middle East and the only Jewish state globally, will not yield to such threats. This statement was made by Netanyahu on a social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter.
