ICC issues arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas commander

Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands have just issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas commander Mohammed Deif.

The Hague-based court rejected Israel’s challenges to its jurisdiction. The decision also affects the militant group’s commander, although the Israeli military stresses that Deif got killed in an air strike in Gaza in July. But the ICC has not been able to confirm his death.

In May, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan sought arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, Deif and a couple of other Hamas leaders – Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinar – both of them later killed in Israeli air strikes in different locations.

Israeli and Hamas leaders accused of crimes against humanity

It is up to the International Criminal Court’s 124 member states – not including Israel or the US – to enforce the court’s decision. Prosecutor Khan’s case against the five people stems from the events of October 7, 2023 – the day the brutal Middle East crisis erupted.

Hamas gunmen attacked southern Israel in October, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 others back to Gaza as hostages. Israel responded to the attack by launching a military campaign to eliminate Hamas and more than 44,000 people have been killed.

Khan has accused the Hamas leaders of crimes against humanity, including extermination, murder, rape and torture. For the Israeli leaders, the accusations include deliberate attacks on civilians, extermination and murder.