The International Criminal Court (ICC) is asking judges to approve arrest warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his defence minister, and top Hamas leaders. This is related to alleged war crimes during the Gaza conflict.
Key points:
- The ICC prosecutor claims there is evidence Netanyahu and the Israeli defence minister used starvation as a warfare method against Gaza civilians.
- Arrest warrants are also requested for 3 Hamas leaders over attacks in Israel last October.
- The ICC says this follows an independent investigation into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity.
- Judges will now decide whether to grant the requested arrest warrants.
Why is this important news? Read on to learn more details.
Israel Leaders Accused of Starving Gaza Civilians
The ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, alleges that Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant deliberately starved the people of Gaza as part of a common plan and method of warfare.
Other alleged crimes against Israeli leaders include:
- Willfully causing great suffering
- Intentionally attacking civilians
- Extermination and murder
- Persecution and inhumane acts
Khan says evidence includes eyewitness interviews, video/photo analysis, and statements showing Israel systematically deprived Gaza of food, medicine and other essentials by blockading border crossings.
Hamas Leaders Accused of Violent Crimes
At the same time, the prosecutor is seeking arrest warrants for 3 top Hamas officials – Yahya Sinwar, Muhammad Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh. They are accused of crimes including:
- Extermination and murder
- Taking hostages
- Rape and sexual violence
- Torture and cruel treatment
Khan states there is evidence these Hamas leaders were responsible for violent attacks on Israeli civilians last October.
Next Steps in Legal Process
Though arrest warrants have been requested, ICC judges must still hold a hearing to review the evidence and decide whether to issue them officially.
If approved, it does not necessarily mean immediate arrests, as the leaders’ home countries may refuse to cooperate with surrendering them to the ICC.
Experts note this is the most significant and balanced set of charges ever pursued against both Israeli and Palestinian leaders by the ICC prosecutors.
The allegations are extremely serious – do you think the ICC judges will approve the arrest warrants? What implications could this have for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
