ICC issues arrest warrants for Israeli PM Netanyahu, Gallant for crimes against humanity

THE HAGUE – The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief for war crimes and crimes against humanity, the court said on Thursday.

In their decision to grant the warrants, the ICC judges said there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Gallant were criminally responsible for starvation in Gaza and the persecution of Palestinians.

Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett said the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant were a ‘mark of shame’ for the court. Israel’s main opposition leader Yair Lapid also denounced the court’s move, calling it ‘a reward for terrorism’.

There was no immediate comment from Netanyahu or Gallant. Israeli and Hamas leaders have dismissed allegations that they committed war crimes.

The court does not have its own police force to carry out arrests and relies on its member states for that. ICC members include all European Union countries, Britain, Japan, Brazil, Australia and Canada, and in the Middle East region the Palestinian territories and Jordan.

The ICC said Israel’s acceptance of the court’s jurisdiction was not required.