On 21st of November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Mohammed Deif, the former military chief of the Islamist terror group Hamas. It has accused them of “committing war crimes and crimes against humanity” during the ongoing Gaza conflict between Israel and Palestine.
The ICC’s panel of three judges held Benjamin Netanyahu responsible for committing atrocities against the Gaza civilians and depriving them of essential commodities like food and water. The ICC judgment said, “The Chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity.”
🔴 #BREAKING | International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for ‘war crimes’ https://t.co/2lG7UDwVco#InternationalCriminalCourt | #Netanyahu | #Gaza | #ICC pic.twitter.com/qY7XC3No4O
— NDTV WORLD (@NDTVWORLD) November 21, 2024
For Hamas terrorist Mohammed Deif, the charges labelled by ICC include murder, torture, and rape that were committed on the 7th of October last year when the Hamas launched terrorist attacks on Israel that killed 1,200 people and held 250 hostages who continue to be held hostage by Hamas.
“The Chamber determined there are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Deif, born in 1965 and serving as the highest commander of Hamas’ military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, at the time of the alleged acts, is accountable for crimes against humanity, including murder, extermination, torture, and various forms of sexual violence such as rape. He is also believed to be responsible for war crimes, including murder, cruel treatment, torture, taking hostages, outrages upon personal dignity, and additional forms of sexual violence.” the ICC remarked.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the warrants as “absurd and false,” emphasizing Israel’s right to self-defense.
Hamas too criticized the ICC, while U.S. President Joe Biden expressed solidarity with Israel, dismissing the court’s actions. Though Israel is not a member of the International Court of Justice, the risk of arrest may hinder Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant’s ability to travel internationally. However, the practical implications of the International Court of Justice have not been found that serious. Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite being subject to an ICC warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, demonstrated that such restrictions can be bypassed. He recently visited Mongolia, an ICC member state, without facing arrest.
