ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant
Astro Awani
21/11/2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the plenum, during a discussion on the subject of hostages kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, in Israel's parliament, the Knesset, November 18, 2024. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
KUALA LUMPUR : The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
This means that any country among the ICC's 124 member states would be obliged to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they were to enter their territory.
ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan had initially requested these warrants in May, asserting that Netanyahu and Gallant might be culpable for actions in Gaza that caused widespread starvation, amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
On Thursday, the court said it had unanimously decided to reject Israel’s appeal over the ICC’s jurisdiction.
Other than those two, the Hague-based court also issued a warrant for Hamas leader Mohammed Deif, citing alleged war crimes linked to the Gaza conflict.
However, Israel said in August it had killed Deif in an air strike in Gaza a month earlier.
