ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan has announced that his office is seeking arrest warrants for none other than Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The charges? Just a list of war crimes and crimes against humanity, all allegedly committed in Gaza since October 8, 2023.
Khan didn’t hold back in his statement: “Based on the evidence my office has collected and examined, I have reasonable grounds to believe that Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant bear criminal responsibility for the following war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the State of Palestine (in the Gaza Strip).”
The accusations include:
- Starvation of civilians as a method of warfare: a war crime under Article 8(2)(b)(xxv) of the ICC Statute.
- Willfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health: violating Article 8(2)(a)(iii) and 8(2)(c)(i).
- Willful killing: contravening Article 8(2)(a)(i) and 8(2)(c)(i).
- Intentionally directing attacks against civilian populations: a war crime under Articles 8(2)(b)(i) and 8(2)(e)(i).
- Extermination and/or murder: crimes against humanity under Articles 7(1)(b) and 7(1)(a), including deaths caused by starvation.
- Persecution and other inhumane acts: as crimes against humanity under Articles 7(1)(h) and 7(1)(k).
One might say the ICC is aiming high this time, targeting two of the most prominent figures in Israeli politics. It’s not like this is the first time Netanyahu has been in hot water, but being on the ICC’s radar is a new level of scrutiny. Gallant, for his part, isn’t faring any better under these accusations.
Twitter has been ablaze with reactions, with users pointing out the stark contrasts in how quickly the ICC has moved on different international crises.
@aisha_C1∅: “It “only” took 7 months and hundred thousand killed or maimed civilians to issue a warrant against these criminals.
The same warrant was issued against Putin just after three weeks of setting foot in Ukraine.”
@Jegrut Barhatiya “Warrant doesn’t matter for Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel and the United States are not members of the ICC. However, the ICC claims to have jurisdiction over Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank after Palestinian leaders formally agreed to be bound by the court’s founding principles in 2015.”
@Joan854∅∅ “Netanyahu wants us in a full fledge war , both financing it and our soldiers , he needs to be arrested now”
As the international community watches closely, the question remains: will these warrants make a difference, or are they just another chapter in the ongoing saga of Middle Eastern conflict and international law?
