FT: ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of crimes against humanity and war crimes related to the war in Gaza.

The court alleges that Netanyahu and Gallant are responsible for using starvation as a weapon of war and for deliberately depriving Gaza’s civilians of basic necessities, including food, water, medicine, and electricity. This decision intensifies the legal scrutiny surrounding Israel’s actions in Gaza and obligates the ICC’s 124 member states to arrest the two if they enter their territories.

On Thursday, the ICC rejected Israel’s appeal challenging its jurisdiction. Netanyahu has dismissed the charges as baseless and politically motivated, describing them as a distortion of reality. Israel, which is not a member of the ICC, argues that the court is treating it unfairly and insists it upholds the rule of law.

The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas leader Mohammed Deif, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel claims to have killed Deif in an airstrike earlier this year.

This development marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over accountability in the Gaza conflict, with the ICC stepping into a highly contentious political and legal arena.

Source: Financial Times