The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and the military leader of Hamas, Mohamed Deif, on charges of war crimes in the Gaza conflict.
The ICC accused Netanyahu and Gallant of willfully preventing civilians in Gaza from accessing food, water, and medical services during Israeli military operations between October 2023 and May 2024. The court also others accused them of obstructing humanitarian aid and directly targeting civilians, causing the deaths of many people, including children.
The leader of Hamas, Mohamed Deif, also faces charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including orchestrating attacks that have killed more than 1,100 people. Although Israel said Deif was killed in an airstrike, the ICC said the case against him will continue until his death is independently verified.
Israel rejected the legal authority of the ICC, but the court insisted on its authority citing that Palestine is a member of the Rome Statute.
Israeli leaders and US officials have condemned the move, while Palestinian officials and human rights groups have welcomed the court’s decision and described it as one that could lead to accountability.
The arrest warrant is the first to be issued by the court against leaders of a country close to the United States, which could affect the international travel of Netanyahu and Gallant.
Israel, which has not signed the Rome Statute, is expected not to cooperate with the court. It will be up to ICC member states to arrest these leaders if they travel to those countries.
