Prosecutor for War Crimes Wants to Arrest Israeli and Hamas Leaders, Including Netanyahu

The Chief Prosecutor of the ICC claimed that Netanyahu and three other individuals are responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza and Israel.

Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, indicated on Monday that he intended to seek arrest warrants for Hamas leaders and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to their participation in the seven-month conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Karim Khan expressed his conviction that war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip and Israel are the fault of Netanyahu, his defense minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders: Yehia Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh.

The prosecutor must approach the three-judge pre-trial panel in order to request warrants. This panel usually needs two months to review the material and determine whether to move forward with the case.

Because Israel is not a party to the court, even in the event that arrest orders are obtained, Netanyahu and Gallant will not be prosecuted right away. Khan’s remarks, however, further isolate Israel as it carries on with its fight, and the possibility of being arrested may make it more difficult for Israeli leaders to travel abroad.

Haniyeh, the supreme head of the Islamic militant movement, lives in Qatar and tours the region on a regular basis. Sinwar and Deif are said to be hiding in Gaza, where Israel is actively chasing them. Both parties did not respond right away.

After a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, which claimed the lives of almost 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and kidnapped 250 more, Israel launched its military campaign. Over 35,000 Palestinians have died as a result of the Israeli offensive, according to Gaza health officials, at least half of whom were women and children.

Approximately 80% of the population in Gaza has been forced to from their homes due to the offensive, and hundreds of thousands more are at risk of famine, according to U.N. authorities.

“The effects of the use of starvation as a method of warfare, along with other attacks and collective punishment against the civilian population of Gaza are acute, visible, and widely known,” Khan said in reference to Israeli activities. These include severe pain, starvation, thirst, and an alarming rise in the number of Palestinian deaths, especially those of women, newborns, and small children.

The UN and other humanitarian organizations have repeatedly charged Israel with blocking assistance supplies during the fighting.

Israel disputes these allegations, claiming that there are no barriers preventing aid from reaching Gaza and charging the UN with poor oversight of the aid distribution process. The United Nations asserts that numerous instances of Israeli gunfire have been experienced by relief workers and highlights the difficulties in delivering supplies due to continued conflicts and a lack of security.

The appalling scenes of these attacks and the profound impact of the heinous acts charged in the applications filed today, Khan continued. Speaking with survivors, I learned of the ways in which extreme callousness and deliberate cruelty were used to twist the strongest ties of love between a parent and child into inflicting unbearable suffering. Accountability is required for these actions.

Israel’s military assault was initially supported by the international community, but as the conflict continues and the number of victims rises, the world community is becoming more and more critical of Israel.

South Africa launched a complaint against Israel in the International Court of Justice, alleging that Israel committed genocide. Israel has refuted these claims.