The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas commander Mohammed Deif. The warrants accuse them of war crimes during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
The ICC judges stated there are “reasonable grounds” to believe the three men are criminally responsible for acts committed during the war. While Europe and the United States have responded differently to the decision, Israel and Hamas have both rejected the ICC’s allegations.
US President Joe Biden condemned the warrants as “outrageous,” affirming unwavering support for Israel. “Whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence – none – between Israel and Hamas,” Biden said.
Netanyahu denounced the ICC’s move, describing it as antisemitic and likening it to the infamous Dreyfus trial. He argued that Israel has taken extraordinary measures to protect civilians, including delivering 700,000 tons of food to Gaza and issuing warnings to avoid harm during military operations.
Gallant criticized the court for equating Israel with Hamas, saying it legitimized acts of terror such as the murder of civilians and abduction of hostages.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, while critical of Netanyahu’s handling of the Hamas conflict, also disagreed with the ICC’s charges. He told the BBC that the accusations were not justified.
The ICC’s allegations against Netanyahu and Gallant include crimes such as starvation as a method of warfare and attacks on civilians. For Deif, the court outlined crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, and sexual violence, linked to Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Palestinians in Gaza welcomed the warrants, with some expressing hope for justice. Hamas described the move as a significant precedent that addresses historical injustices.
The ICC's decision has sparked international debate, with the EU and several European nations supporting the court’s independence. However, the impact of the warrants depends on the cooperation of ICC member states, which exclude both Israel and the US.
The conflict has claimed thousands of lives. Israel’s military response to Hamas’s October 7 attack, which killed around 1,200 Israelis and led to the abduction of 251 people, has left over 44,000 people dead in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry
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