The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants targeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and a Hamas military commander over allegations of war crimes. According to the court’s statement on Thursday, Netanyahu and Gallant are accused of committing crimes against humanity and war crimes during the period from October 8, 2023, to May 20, 2024.
The charges against the Israeli leaders include deliberately depriving Gaza’s civilian population of essential resources necessary for survival. This includes blocking access to critical supplies such as food, water, medicine, and medical equipment, as well as fuel and electricity. The court stated that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe these actions were carried out intentionally and with full knowledge of their impact on civilians in the region.
These accusations form part of a broader investigation into the alleged violations of international law during the ongoing Gaza conflict.
In response to the ICC’s actions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement condemning the allegations, calling them “absurd and false.” The statement declared that Israel “rejects with disgust” the charges brought by the ICC and emphasized that the country would not “succumb to pressure” while protecting its citizens.
Meanwhile, the ICC also unanimously approved an arrest warrant for Mohammed al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, the military commander of Hamas. He is accused of committing crimes against humanity and war crimes in Israel and Palestine starting on October 7, 2023. The charges against him include murder, torture, rape, and other forms of sexual violence.
The October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks in Israel resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,139 people, with over 200 individuals taken hostage. Although Israel claims to have killed Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif in a southern Gaza airstrike in July, the ICC proceeded with issuing a warrant for his arrest. The court stated it could not confirm whether Deif was dead or still alive.
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan had initially sought arrest warrants in May against Israeli officials and three Hamas leaders. These warrants relate to alleged crimes committed during the Hamas attack on southern Israel and Israel’s subsequent military operations in Gaza.
ICC prosecutors have stated that there are reasonable grounds to hold Israeli leaders Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, along with Hamas figures Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohammed Deif, criminally responsible for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Hamas’s political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was reportedly assassinated in Iran in July, while Yahya Sinwar was killed in October during clashes with the Israeli military. Earlier this month, Netanyahu dismissed Gallant, citing a loss of confidence in his handling of Israel’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
Israel, which is not a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), has strongly opposed the court’s actions, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously denouncing the accusations as a “disgrace” and an attack on both the Israeli military and the nation as a whole.
Despite Israel’s efforts, the ICC announced on Thursday that it had unanimously dismissed Israel’s appeal challenging the court’s jurisdiction. Reporting from Amman, Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut noted that Israel had made significant attempts to undermine the ICC’s credibility and contest its authority, while Israeli politicians worked internally to prevent the issuance of arrest warrants.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the ICC’s actions, labeling them “anti-Semitic” and comparing them to a “modern-day Dreyfus trial,” referencing the wrongful conviction of a Jewish French military officer for treason in the early 20th century.
In its statement, the office described the ICC as a “biased and discriminatory political body” and rejected the accusations as “absurd and false.” Opposition leader Yair Lapid also criticized the court’s decision, while former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman stated on X (formerly Twitter) that Israel would not apologize for defending its citizens and would remain steadfast in its fight against terrorism.
Hamas has welcomed the ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, calling it a “significant step towards justice.” Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim stated that while the move offers hope for justice and potential redress for victims, it remains largely symbolic unless it is fully supported by countries worldwide.
Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst, Marwan Bishara, praised the ICC’s decision, expressing hope that, after enduring a year of what he described as unfolding genocide, the people of Gaza might finally see accountability for the crimes committed against them.
However, skepticism remains among Gaza residents. Reporting from Deir el-Balah, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud highlighted doubts about the effectiveness of the warrants, particularly given unwavering U.S. support for Israel. Mahmoud noted that many believe the U.S., either under its current administration or a future one, could challenge or undermine the court’s actions.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s war on Gaza has resulted in at least 44,056 deaths and 104,286 injuries, according to Palestinian health officials.
Neve Gordon, a human rights law professor at Queen Mary University of London, told Al Jazeera that the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants could influence the flow of weapons to Israel. He explained that if Israeli leaders are charged with crimes against humanity, it would mean that European weapons sent to Israel are being used to commit such crimes. As a result, he argued, European countries should reconsider their arms trade with Israel and stop sending weapons.
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