The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Secretary Yoav Gallant, citing alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the conflict in Gaza from October 2023 to May 2024.
Story Summary:
- The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Secretary Yoav Gallant for war crimes during the Gaza conflict.
- Charges include intentional attacks on civilians, starvation as a method of warfare, and blocking humanitarian aid.
- Hamas military leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al Masri faces separate ICC charges for crimes against humanity, including murder and hostage-taking.
ICC charges Benjamin Netanyahu with war crimes
The Pre-Trial Chamber I of the ICC, sitting for the Situation in the State of Palestine, ruled that the alleged acts fall under its jurisdiction, including intentional attacks on civilians and the use of starvation as a method of warfare.
In a statement issued on Thursday, 21 November 2024, the ICC clarified that its jurisdiction stems from the territorial scope of Palestine, which acceded to the Rome Statute in 2015.
Netanyahu and Gallant are accused of failing to facilitate humanitarian aid and impeding the delivery of essential supplies, resulting in severe deprivation and deaths, including those of children.
The ICC also found reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant oversaw attacks deliberately targeting Gaza’s civilian population, constituting violations of international humanitarian law.
The arrest warrants remain classified as “secret” to protect witnesses and safeguard investigations.
The ICC revealed that both Netanyahu and Gallant intentionally disrupted humanitarian relief by limiting access to food, water, and medical supplies for civilians in Gaza.
The chamber noted the worsening humanitarian crisis despite repeated appeals from the UN Security Council and other international bodies.
Evidence presented includes the use of deliberate starvation tactics and insufficient relief operations.
In addition to Netanyahu and Gallant, the ICC has issued a separate warrant for Hamas military leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al Masri, known as Deif, for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder and hostage-taking.
The ICC’s decision comes after years of deliberation regarding its jurisdiction over Israeli-Palestinian conflicts.
The State of Palestine’s 2018 referral and subsequent investigations formed the basis for the court’s ruling.
