ICC issues arrest warrant for Israeli PM Netanyahu over Gaza war crimes
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military commander Mohammed al-Masri (also known as Mohammed Deif) over alleged war crimes.
The court accused Netanyahu and Gallant of crimes against humanity, claiming they knowingly deprived Gaza civilians of essential resources, including food, water, medicine, and electricity, between October 8, 2023, and May 20, 2024. Israel rejected the allegations, calling them false and absurd, and reaffirmed its commitment to defend its citizens.
The ICC also issued a warrant for Hamas leader Mohammed Deif, accusing him of crimes such as murder, torture, and sexual violence during attacks on Israel starting on October 7, 2023. Despite Israel’s claim of killing Deif in July 2023, the court proceeded with the warrant, citing uncertainty over his death.
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan had applied for warrants in May, citing evidence that Netanyahu, Gallant, and other Hamas leaders, including Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh, were responsible for crimes during the October 7 attacks and subsequent Israeli actions in Gaza. Sinwar and Haniyeh were killed during the conflict.
In response, Israel condemned the ICC’s actions, calling them politically motivated and anti-Semitic. The Israeli prime minister’s office likened the move to a historic wrongful conviction of a Jewish officer in France. Opposition leaders in Israel also criticized the decision, affirming that Israel would continue its fight against terrorism.
