The International Criminal Court in The Hague has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Galant. The tribunal wants to try them, among other things, for using hunger as a weapon in the fight against Hamas. After launching a retaliatory operation, Israel closed Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and hindered access to humanitarian aid. A separate arrest warrant was issued for Hamas leader Mohammed Deifa. A total of three architects of the October 7 attack were supposed to be prosecuted for crimes against humanity, but two are already dead. The Israeli authorities' comment is short: the arrest warrant is anti-Semitism.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Joav Galant will think twice before traveling abroad from November 21. They could be detained in any of the more than 120 countries that recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
The ICC's special statement reads: “The Court issued arrest warrants for two individuals, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr. Yoav Galant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed between at least October 8, 2023 and at least May 20, 2024.”
On May 20, Karim Khan, a British lawyer and prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, completed the investigation, applied for an arrest warrant and announced what crimes he accused both politicians of.
The crimes committed by Israel
– These crimes include: starvation of the civilian population as a method of waging war, intentional infliction of great suffering and serious injuries, cruel treatment, intentional murders and deliberate targeting of civilians – Karim Khan pointed out on May 20.
The Israeli prime minister's office called the court's decision “anti-Semitic.”
The head of Israeli diplomacy said that the arrest warrant for Netanyahu and Galant was absurd and that the International Criminal Court had lost its legitimacy to adjudicate. There is disbelief in Israel, especially among Netanyahu's supporters.
– Hamas still holds 101 hostages. There is a four-year-old child there. There's a one-year-old baby there. Our Prime Minister is the only person in the Middle East who is really fighting terrorism. I can't believe it, comments Yatif Baruch, a supporter of Benjamin Netanyahu.
“They hate Netanyahu because he is the best leader next to Trump.”
– The Hague is the anti-Semitic tribunal of the anti-Semitic world. They hate Netanyahu because, next to Trump, he is the best leader, says Anat Levy, another supporter of Benjamin Netanyahu.
The International Criminal Court also issued an arrest warrant for the commander of Hamas' armed wing, Mohammed Al Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif. The Israeli military said he was killed in an airstrike in the Gaza Strip in July. Hamas neither confirms nor denies this information. The tribunal is examining the case.
The decisions of the International Criminal Court are difficult to enforce, but they are not only symbolic – as shown by the example of Vladimir Putin, who is wanted on an arrest warrant. The Russian dictator was forced to severely restrict international travel. At summit meetings, such as this week at the G20, he is represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
The West's reaction
Diplomats from around the world are speaking out on the latest ICC decision, including: the resigning head of EU diplomacy. – The Tribunal's decision is not political. This is a decision of an international court, it must be respected and implemented, says Josep Borrell.
– The Netherlands is obliged under the Rome Statute to consider requests for arrest and extradition – says Caspar Veldkamp, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs.
– All European Union countries are signatories of the Rome Statute, i.e. they are members of the International Criminal Court and as such they are obliged that if there is someone subject to an arrest warrant on their territory, whether it be Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin or someone else, they are obliged to arrest him and bring him to The Hague for trial. Because an arrest warrant is not a court judgment, it is also worth emphasizing – comments Michał Wojnarowicz, an analyst at the Polish Institute of International Affairs.
In the background of the activities of the International Criminal Court, an investigation is underway into the case of prosecutor Karim Khan – his assistant accuses him of “forcing her to perform sexual acts.”
Khan maintains that the accusations are part of a disinformation campaign intended to discredit him and the entire ICC.
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Main photo source: Reuters