21-11-2024 (THE HAGUE) In an unprecedented development, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a former Israeli defence minister, and Hamas military commander Ibrahim Al-Masri over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The warrants, issued by ICC judges, follow Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan’s May 20 announcement seeking legal action regarding alleged crimes committed during the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel and the subsequent military response in Gaza.
The court’s decision marks a significant escalation in international legal scrutiny of the conflict, despite Israel’s consistent rejection of the ICC’s jurisdiction. The tribunal has maintained that Israeli acceptance of its authority is not a prerequisite for proceeding with the case.
Netanyahu’s government has vehemently denied allegations of war crimes in Gaza and disputes the legitimacy of the ICC’s involvement. The Israeli administration has historically refused to recognise the court’s authority, arguing that as a non-signatory to the Rome Statute, it falls outside the ICC’s jurisdiction.
Adding complexity to the situation is the uncertainty surrounding Al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif. While Israeli forces claim to have eliminated the Hamas leader in an airstrike, the militant organisation has neither confirmed nor denied his death.
