The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former defense chief Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri, alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity during the ongoing Gaza conflict.
In their decision on Thursday, ICC judges stated that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant are criminally responsible for acts including murder, persecution, and the use of starvation as a weapon of war. These acts are said to be part of a “widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza.”
The judges further indicated that the blockade of Gaza and the lack of essential supplies such as food, water, electricity, fuel, and medical supplies have “created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza.” This situation has allegedly resulted in the deaths of civilians, including children, due to malnutrition and dehydration.
The arrest warrant for Al-Masri includes charges related to mass killings during the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel that escalated the conflict in Gaza. The charges also encompass rape and the taking of hostages.
While Israel has claimed that Al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, was killed in an airstrike in July, Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied this. The ICC prosecution noted that it would continue to gather information regarding reports of his death.
Global ReactionIsraelIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded strongly, saying, “Today is a dark day in the history of humanity. The International Court in The Hague, which was invented to protect humanity, has become today the enemy of humanity.” He added that he expects countries not to support the ICC’s decision, calling it “an antisemitic step” aimed at deterring Israel from defending itself.
Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated, “Gone are the days when we could be denied the right to defend ourselves. The attempt to deny Israel its right to achieve its goals in its just war will fail.”
President Isaac Herzog commented, “The decision chose the side of terrorism and evil over democracy and freedom and turned the international justice system itself into a human shield for Hamas’ crimes against humanity.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described the ICC’s action as “a dark moment for the International Criminal Court,” asserting that the court had “lost all legitimacy” and issued “absurd orders without authority.”
Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir added, “The International Criminal Court in The Hague shows once again that it is antisemitic through and through.”
PalestiniansIn contrast, Hamas welcomed the ICC’s decision. An official statement from the group said, “We call on the International Criminal Court to expand the scope of accountability to all criminal occupation leaders.”
Senior Hamas official Basem Naim remarked, “This is an important step on the path to justice and bringing justice to the victims, but it remains a limited and spiritual step if it is not backed practically by all countries.”
The Palestinian Authority also welcomed the decision, urging members of the court to implement it, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA.
Lawyers and NGOsYael Vias Gvirsman, the lawyer representing Israeli victims of the October 7 attacks at the ICC, called the warrants a significant step. She stated that the ICC judges have “issued arrest warrants for torture, extermination, rape, and other sexual crimes and for inhumane acts. And this is very significant: the recognition of the victims, and that they’re saying the truth.”
Human rights lawyer Reed Brody described the warrants as “unprecedented, justified, and overdue,” noting that the ICC has never indicted a pro-Western official in its 21-year history and has primarily targeted defeated adversaries or opponents of the West.
Human Rights Watch called the arrest warrants a “break through the perception that certain individuals are beyond the reach of the law.” The organization added, “This is all the more important given the brazen attempts to obstruct the course of justice at the court,” and urged the global community to address atrocities and secure justice for all victims in Palestine and Israel.
International ResponsesNorth America
A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council expressed the United States’ rejection of the ICC’s decision, stating, “The United States fundamentally rejects the Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials. We remain deeply concerned by the prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized the importance of adhering to international law, saying, “It’s really important that everyone abide by international law,” and added that Canada would abide by rulings of international courts.
Europe
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated that the ICC warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant are not political and that all EU member states should respect the court’s decision and implement it. All EU countries have ratified the Rome Statute Treaty.
The Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Italy, and Spain all indicated that they would meet their commitments and obligations regarding the Rome Statute and international law. Austria echoed this stance, though its Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg added that the warrant was absurd.
France’s Foreign Ministry stated that its response to the warrants would align with ICC statutes but declined to confirm if it would arrest Netanyahu, citing legal complexities.
A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that Britain respects the independence of the ICC but did not confirm whether Britain would uphold the warrants.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide commented, “It is important that the ICC carries out its mandate in a judicious manner. I have confidence that the court will proceed with the case based on the highest fair trial standards.”
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard stated that Sweden and the EU “support the court’s important work and protect its independence and integrity.” She added that Swedish law enforcement authorities decide on the arrest of subjects of ICC warrants on Swedish territory.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called the ICC arrest warrants a “hopeful and extremely important step” in bringing Israeli authorities who committed genocide against Palestinians to justice. He added, “We will continue to work to ensure that international law is implemented to punish genocide.”
Middle East
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said that ICC rulings should be respected and implemented, adding that “Palestinians deserve justice.”
Africa
South Africa, which has accused Israel of genocide in Gaza with the International Court of Justice, welcomed the ICC’s decision. “These actions mark a significant step towards justice for crimes against humanity and war crimes in Palestine,” a government statement read.
The ICC’s decision marks a significant development in the ongoing Gaza conflict, highlighting the international community’s growing involvement in seeking accountability for alleged war crimes. As reactions continue to pour in from around the world, the pursuit of justice remains a complex and contentious issue, underscoring the deep divisions and the urgent need for a peaceful resolution.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
