International Criminal Court Issues Arrest Warrants For Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Gallant For War Crimes

The International Criminal Court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, "for crimes against humanity and war crimes" in the ongoing war in Gaza.

Netanyahu and Gallant intentionally deprived civilians in Gaza of food, water and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity, and used starvation as a method of warfare, the International Criminal Court alleges.

The arrest warrants also allege both men deprived civilians in Gaza of fundamental rights, including the rights to life and health, and intentionally directed attacks against the civilian population of Gaza. The ICC’s Pre-trial Chamber I also found Netanyahu and Gallant are responsible for other inhumane acts. 

Israeli President Isaac Herzog called the arrest warrants a “dark day for justice” in a post on X, adding that the warrants are a “mockery” of those who fight for justice and “ignore the plight of the 101 Israeli hostages held in brutal captivity by Hamas in Gaza.”

Herzog concluded: “This cynical exploitation of the international legal institutions reminds us once again of the need for true moral clarity in the face of an Iranian empire of evil that seeks to destabilize our region and the world, and destroy the very institutions of the free world.”

The court’s 124 member states would be obligated to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they entered those states, the Financial Times said in a report, adding that the ICC has no means of enforcing this.

The Details: The court also issued a warrant for Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif. Israeli officials say Deif was killed in an airstrike in Gaza in July. Prosecutors said they issued the warrant because they were not able to confirm whether he is dead or alive. 

The ICC rejected Israel's challenge to the court's jurisdiction over "the situation in the State of Palestine" and over Israeli nationals.

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The ICC said in a press release that the arrest warrants are classified as secret, but the chamber decided to release the information since the conduct "appears to be ongoing." The chamber also said it considers it in the best interest of the victims to be aware of the issuance of the warrants. 

Other Developments:  U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein is in Israel for talks with Israeli officials over a cease-fire in Lebanon. Hochstein left Beirut on Wednesday after two days of meetings with Lebanese officials, according to The Washington Post.

The United States vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution put forward Wednesday that called for a cease-fire in Gaza because it was not contingent on the release of hostages still held and it did not condemn Hamas.

At least 44,056 people have been killed in Gaza during the war and 104,268 injured, the Post reported, citing the Gaza Health Ministry. At least 3,558 people have been killed and 15,123 injured in Lebanon, the report said, citing Lebanon’s health ministry. The organizations do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

Israel estimates that approximately 1,200 people were killed in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack and says 377 soldiers have been killed in its military operation in Gaza.

Image: Shutterstock.