ICC Calls on Member States to Enforce Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas Leader
Karim Khan, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), called on both member and non-member states to respond to the arrest warrants issued by the court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former defense minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif.
The warrants were issued in connection with alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the conflict in Gaza.
“I urge all States Parties to uphold their responsibilities under the Rome Statute by adhering to these judicial orders,” Mr. Khan stated.
The ICC judges determined there were reasonable grounds to suspect that Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gallant bore criminal responsibility for acts including murder, persecution, and starvation as a method of warfare, as part of a “widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza”.
Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant face accusations of alleged war crimes.
The ruling sparked outrage in Israel, which described it as shameful and absurd.
Residents of Gaza expressed hope that this development might contribute to ending the violence and achieving justice for those accountable for war crimes. Hamas welcomed the warrants targeting the Israelis, with a senior official telling Reuters that this was a preliminary step toward justice.
The warrant for Mr. Deif includes charges related to mass killings during the attacks on October 7, 2023, which initiated the Gaza war, along with accusations of rape and hostage-taking.
Although Israel claims to have killed Mr. Deif in a July airstrike, Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied this. The prosecution noted that it would continue to gather information regarding his reported death.
Israel has dismissed the jurisdiction of the Hague-based court and refutes allegations of war crimes in Gaza.
The United States, a significant diplomatic ally of Israel, is also not a signatory to the ICC. It stated that it “fundamentally rejects” this action.
“We are deeply concerned by the prosecutor’s hasty pursuit of arrest warrants and the problematic procedural errors that led to this decision,” a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council remarked, adding that the US is in discussions with its partners regarding next steps.
Israel’s ongoing campaign in Gaza has resulted in approximately 44,000 Palestinian deaths and the displacement of nearly the entire population of the enclave.
Global powers such as Russia, China, and India have also not joined the ICC, the permanent war crimes court supported by the European Union, Australia, Canada, Britain, Brazil, Japan, and numerous African and Latin American nations.
On May 20, Mr. Khan announced his intention to seek arrest warrants for alleged crimes linked to the Hamas-led attacks on Israel and the Israeli military’s subsequent response in Gaza.
Leaders from both Israel and Hamas have rejected allegations of committing war crimes.
The ICC lacks its own police force to execute arrests and depends on its 124 member states, possessing limited diplomatic tools to compel cooperation if states are unwilling.
‘This is of utmost seriousness’
Taoiseach Simon Harris characterized the ICC’s decision to issue warrants as an “extremely significant step,” emphasizing the court’s assertion of “reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gallant are each criminally responsible for crimes committed during the war in Gaza.”
These allegations encompass “the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.”
“These charges could not be more severe,” Mr. Harris stated.
“Ireland acknowledges the important role of the International Criminal Court. Any party capable of assisting in its essential work must now do so with urgency.”
Tánaiste Micheál Martin also highlighted the ICC’s decision, which he noted Ireland firmly supports.
He called for “all states to respect its independence and impartiality, ensuring no attempts are made to undermine the court.”
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald welcomed this action.
She emphasized that the armament of Israel must cease and reiterated her call for imposing sanctions against Israel.
Mr. Netanyahu’s office labeled the ICC decision as “antisemitic” and asserted that he will “not yield to pressure, nor will he be deterred” until Israel achieves its military goals.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that the ICC has “lost all legitimacy” following the issuance of arrest warrants for Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gallant.
“This is a dark moment for the International Criminal Court,” Mr. Saar remarked on X, claiming that it had issued “absurd orders without authority.”
No immediate comment was available from Mr. Gallant.
In a statement, Hamas praised the warrants against Mr. Gallant and Mr. Netanyahu and urged the court to extend accountability to all Israeli leaders.
Senior Hamas official Basem Naim told Reuters that the warrants against the Israelis represent a significant step toward achieving justice for the victims and that all nations should support them.
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, expressed that the decision was not politically motivated but rather a judicial matter that deserves respect and implementation.
“The tragedy in Gaza must come to an end,” he asserted.
Jordan’s foreign minister Ayman Safadi insisted that the ICC’s decision should be executed, asserting that Palestinians deserve justice after what he referred to as Israel’s “war crimes” in Gaza.
The Netherlands’ foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp stated that his country will act on arrest warrants for individuals on its soil and will refrain from “non-essential” engagements.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump, remarked, “The court is a dangerous joke. It is time for the US Senate to intervene and sanction this irresponsible body.”
According to Gaza officials, Israel’s 13-month military campaign has resulted in the deaths of roughly 44,000 Palestinians, displacing nearly the entire population of the enclave and creating a humanitarian crisis.
This military action was launched in retaliation for the Hamas-led attack on October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals in southern Israel, with more than 250 others reportedly taken hostage, as claimed by Israel.
