ICC to Issue Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant Over War Crimes

The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) prosecutor, Karim Kahn, officially requested arrest warrants be issued for both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant on charges of crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the Gaza war.

Warrants are also being sought for Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’ political leader, and Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, the leader of the Al Qassem Brigades and better known as Mohammed Deif.

The warrants for the Hamas terrorist leaders are for the crimes committed during the October 7, 2023 massacre that the organization enacted on innocent Israeli civilians. More than 1,200 people were murdered on that day, including Israeli-Arabs and foreign nationals. Hamas terrorists also sexually assaulted many women and even mutilated the corpses of the dead.

Khan emphasized as he demanded the release of the remaining 128 hostages in Gaza.

Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan made his announcement Monday, on the 227th day of the Gaza war. Currently, neither Prime Minister Netanyahu nor the Israeli government has issued a statement in response.

However, the ICC has not yet responded to the request.

“I insist that all attempts to impede, intimidate, or improperly influence the officials of this Court must cease immediately. My Office will not hesitate to act pursuant to article 70 of the Rome Statute if such conduct continues,” he stated.

Khan made the announcement about the warrants in an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour before releasing a video and text statement from the court.

ICC’s chief prosecutor tell CNN that he applied for arrest warrants against Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu & Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The prosecutor also asked the court to issue warrants against Hamas’ Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, & Ismail Haniyeh. pic.twitter.com/B8DiXEjy07

— Abraham Gutman (@abgutman) May 20, 2024

Khan previously said his office had warned Israel to take the humanitarian aid issue seriously, “starvation as a method of war” was against the Rome Statute, he said.

“I could not have been clearer,” Khan said. “Those who do not comply with the law should not complain later when my Office takes action. That day has come.”

Khan called for the “immediate release of all hostages taken from Israel and for their safe return to their families.”

“My Office submits there are reasonable grounds to believe that Sinwar, Deif, and Haniyeh are criminally responsible for the killing of hundreds of Israeli civilians in attacks on October 7,” he said.

“These individuals planned and instigated the commission of crimes on 7 October 2023, and have through their own actions, including personal visits to hostages shortly after their kidnapping, acknowledged their responsibility for those crimes,” Khan adds.

“We submit that these crimes could not have been committed without their actions. These acts demand accountability,” he said.

By seeking these warrants, Khan announced, “We once again underline that international law and the laws of armed conflict apply to all. No foot soldier, no commander, no civilian leader – no one – can act with impunity. This is how we will tangibly prove that all human beings’ lives have equal value,” Khan said.

“If we do not demonstrate our willingness to apply the law equally if it is seen as being applied selectively, we will create the conditions for its collapse. Nothing can justify willfully depriving human beings, including so many women and children, of the basic necessities required for life. Nothing can justify the taking of hostages or the targeting of civilians,” he said.

As stated, there has not yet been a response from Israeli officials to the announcement.

But the problem for Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the appearance that the issuing of any such warrants would ban Netanyahu from visiting their countries and more.

The ICC has not yet made a decision about the request for the warrants.