ICC issues arrest warrant for Netanyahu, Gallant and Deif

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, as well as Hamas’ military chief Mohammed Deif.

This unprecedented move prompted a harsh reaction from Netanyahu, who said in a statement: “Israel rejects with disgust the absurd and wrong actions and accusations made against it.”

This move by the ICC theoretically limits Netanyahu’s action because any of the court’s 124 national members would be forced to arrest him on their own territory.

“The Chamber has issued an arrest warrant for two individuals, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr. Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least October 8, 2023, to at least May 20, 2024 (the day the Prosecutor’s Office applied for the arrest warrant). Arrest,” the ICC said in a statement.

It was stated that a search warrant was also issued for Deif.

Israel announced in early August that it had killed Deif in an airstrike in southern Gaza in July, but Hamas has not confirmed his death.

The court said the prosecutor continued to issue an arrest warrant because he could not determine whether Deif was dead.

‘Reasonable grounds’

The court said it found “reasonable grounds” to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant bear “criminal responsibility” for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, as well as crimes against humanity such as murder, cruelty and other inhumane acts.

The ICC said the pair also “bear criminal liability as civilian superiors for the war crime of deliberately carrying out attacks against civilians.”

The court alleged that both men “intentionally and consciously deprived the civilian population of Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, medicine, fuel and electricity.”

Regarding the war crime of starvation, the court said that “the lack of food, water, electricity, fuel and certain medical supplies creates living conditions that will lead to the destruction of part of the civilian population of Gaza.”

This led to civilian deaths, including children, due to malnutrition and dehydration, the court alleged.

“Based on the documents submitted by the Prosecutor’s Office and covering the period until May 20, 2024, the Chamber could not establish that all elements of the crime of destruction, which is a crime against humanity, were met,” the court said. he said.

However, the judges said there were reasonable grounds to believe that murder, a crime against humanity, was committed in relation to these victims.

Veteran war crimes prosecutor and commentator Reed Brody said the arrest warrants were “justifiable and truly overdue as well as unprecedented.”

“The ICC has never indicted a pro-Western official in over 21 years,” he said.

Hamas said the arrest warrants against Israeli officials were “an important step towards justice”.

‘Secret’ orders

The court said the arrest warrants were classified as “secret” to protect witnesses and ensure the conduct of investigations.

“However, the Department has decided to release the following information because behavior similar to that described in the arrest warrant appears to be continuing,” the court said. he said.

“Additionally, the Department believes it is in the interest of the victims and their families to be made aware of the existence of the search warrant.”

ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan asked the court in May to issue an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and Gallant over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Netanyahu dismissed Gallant as defense minister on November 5.

Khan also called for an arrest warrant for senior Hamas leaders, including Mohammed Deif, on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The ICC had previously stated that the prosecutor withdrew the application for the group’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, on August 2 “due to the changed circumstances caused by the death of Mr. Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.”

Khan also requested an arrest warrant for former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by the Israeli army in Gaza.

Israel has been engaged in a military conflict in Gaza, which is ruled by the militant group, since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, the deadliest attack in Israeli history.

The conflict was triggered by an attack on Israel by Hamas militants; this was a stunning cross-border raid that resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians. AFP Tally of Israeli official figures.

At least 44,056 people have been killed in more than 13 months of fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants, the Hamas government’s health ministry in the Gaza Strip said on Thursday.

According to the ministry, 104,268 people have been injured in the Gaza Strip since the conflict began.