International Court issues arrest warrant against Netanyahu

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in relation to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The ICC charged both leaders with crimes including murder, persecution, inhumane acts, and the use of starvation as a method of warfare. Specifically, they are accused of intentionally obstructing the delivery of essential supplies such as food, water, and medical aid to civilians in Gaza, which the court claims exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the region.

The charges against Netanyahu and Gallant relate to the period between October 8, 2023, and May 20, 2024. According to the ICC, the Israeli military’s actions led to a severe shortage of basic necessities, resulting in widespread malnutrition and dehydration. The court stated that this lack of vital resources directly contributed to the deaths of civilians, including children, and forced them to endure unsafe medical procedures. The court found reasonable grounds to believe that the accused leaders bore criminal responsibility for these actions due to their positions as civilian superiors.

The charges are connected to Israel's military offensive launched in response to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. In retaliation, Israel carried out extensive airstrikes and military operations in Gaza, leading to the destruction of key infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and residential buildings. The conflict has caused the deaths of thousands of civilians, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced. The ICC noted that, despite the stated military objectives, the operations disproportionately affected civilians, with extensive damage to civilian infrastructure.

The court specifically referenced the lack of food, water, electricity, fuel, and medical supplies in Gaza as evidence that conditions were intentionally created to inflict suffering on the civilian population. The ICC emphasized that this deprivation led to the destruction of a significant portion of the civilian population in Gaza, which includes not only deaths from starvation and dehydration but also those caused by the collapse of essential services.

Additionally, the ICC rejected Israel's challenge to the court’s jurisdiction over the situation in Gaza. Israel had contended that the ICC did not have authority to intervene without its consent. However, the court ruled that it had jurisdiction over the situation in Gaza, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as part of Palestine’s territorial scope. The ICC dismissed Israel’s objections, explaining that jurisdictional challenges could only be raised after an arrest warrant is issued, not before. The investigation into the situation in Gaza was initially launched by the ICC in 2021.