The ICC Releases Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, and Deif for Alleged War Crimes in Gaza
Mogadishu (AX) — In a startling move, the International Criminal Court (ICC) took a dramatic step on Thursday, issuing arrest warrants against three prominent figures: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif. The charges? War crimes and crimes against humanity during the intense Gaza conflict.
ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I has articulated that there’s “reasonable cause” to think Netanyahu and Gallant orchestrated policies that deprived Gaza civilians of life-sustaining essentials like food, water, and medicines. These allegations span from October 8, 2023, to May 20, 2024, a timeframe coinciding with Israel’s military pursuits in Gaza.
Israel fiercely challenges the ICC’s claim to jurisdiction, but their protests fell flat. The Pre-Trial Chamber resolutely dismissed these objections, affirming that its jurisdiction does indeed encompass Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, due to Palestine’s 2015 signing of the Rome Statute.
“Israel’s acceptance of the Court’s jurisdiction isn’t required,” the chamber stated, pointing to Palestinian territorial jurisdiction as underpinning their decision.
The chamber’s indictment is stark. It accuses Netanyahu and Gallant of intentionally depriving Gaza’s populace of necessities, infringing upon international humanitarian laws. This allegedly led to widespread malnutrition, thirst, and civilian fatalities, including children.
A grave accusation remarked, “The Chamber believes the lack of food, water, electricity, and fuel led to conditions meant to partly obliterate Gaza’s civilian population,” according to the court statement. Furthermore, it accused the duo of deliberately obstructing humanitarian aid and specifically targeting civilian areas.
In addition, the ICC underlined a desperate shortage of medical supplies, such as anesthetics, forcing doctors to perform surgeries in harmful conditions that caused immense suffering. The chamber classified these deeds as inhumane, tantamount to crimes against humanity.
“These warrants are a stride towards holding people accountable for significant breaches of international law,” emphasized ICC prosecutor Karim Khan.
In a similar vein, the ICC issued an arrest warrant against Mohammed Deif. The elusive boss of Hamas’ military arm, the Qassam Brigades, faces charges including murder, torture, hostage-taking, as well as organizing the deadly October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, which resulted in over 1,100 fatalities. Deif, emerging from the Khan Younis refugee camp since 1965, gained notoriety during the first Intifada and is acknowledged for his role in weaving Hamas’s intricate tunnel networks and bomb-making prowess. While Israel claims to have eliminated him via an airstrike, the ICC noted that his charges remain until verification proves otherwise.
This move has sparked international uproar. Israeli President Isaac Herzog thundered that it marked a “dark day for humanity,” accusing the court of aligning with terrorism. Opposition figure Yair Lapid termed the warrants “a reward for terror,” while another former Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, called the ICC’s actions a “mark of shame.”
The big picture? These arrest warrants are monumental, representing the first time the ICC has targeted leaders of a nation likened to a U.S. ally.
Across the pond in the U.S., the Biden administration, self-declared as Israel’s “biggest supporter,” is expected to denounce the ICC’s ruling and its authority over Israel. Freshly minted Senate Majority Leader John Thune threatened sanctions against the ICC, arguing the warrants were “politically motivated.”
Contrastingly, Palestinian authorities and international human rights groups have lauded the warrants as a move towards accountability for Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe, where over 41,000 Palestinians, including civilians, have perished since the conflict’s onset.
Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara described it as “an extraordinary day for justice,” suggesting the ICC is boldly transitioning toward impartial accountability.
Bishara highlighted potentially severe impacts on Netanyahu’s global standing, noting that should he visit any of the 124 ICC member nations, arrest could be a real possibility.
That said, Israel doesn’t acknowledge the Rome Statute and outright rejects ICC authority, meaning collaboration is doubtful. The enforcement of these warrants will pivot significantly on the resolve of member states to execute arrests, thereby possibly restricting Netanyahu and Gallant’s travel plans internationally.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
