ICC Issues Arrest Warrants Against Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas Leader from The Hague

the hague - The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has issued arrest warrants for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The ICC claims that there is evidence suggesting Netanyahu and Gallant, in their roles as Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, bear "criminal responsibility" for a number of crimes. These include the use of starvation as a weapon, a war crime, and "murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts" amounting to crimes against humanity. The ICC also believes that Israelis may have committed a war crime by ordering attacks on the civilian population in the Palestinian territories.

The ICC's Chief Prosecutor, Karim Khan, had previously requested arrest warrants for Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, but they have been confirmed to be killed. However, the death of Deif has never been confirmed, and the ICC states that it is not possible to determine if he is still alive. Deif was the supreme commander of the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and is wanted by the court for crimes including murder, extermination, torture, hostage-taking, and rape.

In May, Khan announced the request for arrest warrants. A special chamber of the court then considered the request but was not bound by a deadline. The three judges that make up the chamber have now approved the arrest warrants. The court also stated on Thursday that objections from the Israeli government have been rejected.

More than 120 countries are parties to the ICC, obliging them to execute the court's arrest warrants. The court previously issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin for involvement in the transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia.