The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, following a request from prosecutor Karim Khan six months ago.
This is a significant development, marking the first time in the court’s 22-year history that arrest warrants have been issued for senior officials from Western-allied nations.
Along with Netanyahu and Gallant, the ICC has also issued a warrant for Hamas military leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, despite Israeli reports claiming his death in Gaza.
The individuals are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, primarily related to actions taken since October 7 of the previous year.
The arrest warrants were issued by the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I, consisting of three judges, who upheld the court’s jurisdiction despite Israel’s objections.
Although classified as “secret,” the warrants have been made public due to the ongoing nature of the alleged crimes, including Israel’s continued military operations in Gaza and Hamas’s detention of Israeli captives.
The ICC stated that releasing the warrants was in the best interest of victims and their families, ensuring they are informed about the legal proceedings.
Under the Rome Statute, the treaty that governs the ICC, all 124 member states are now required to arrest the individuals named in the warrants and transfer them to The Hague for trial.
The court further emphasized that a trial cannot proceed in absentia.
