International Criminal Court Issues Arrest Warrant For Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu

Abir Sultan/Pool Photo via AP

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif on Thursday.

The charges accuse the leaders of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, who initiated the request in May, alleged that Netanyahu and Gallant bear “criminal responsibility” for policies that caused mass starvation in Gaza, violating international law.

Meanwhile, Deif, whose fate remains uncertain following unverified reports of his death, faces allegations of murder, torture, rape, and hostage-taking.

The ICC stated there were “reasonable grounds” to pursue these charges against all three leaders.

This development leaves Netanyahu and Gallant vulnerable to arrest in nations that recognize ICC jurisdiction under the 1998 Rome Statute, though many member states have historically ignored such warrants.

In September 2024, Israel formally submitted two legal challenges to the ICC, arguing procedural errors and asserting that the court lacks authority over its nationals, given that Israel is not a signatory to the Rome Statute. Additionally, Israel has questioned the impartiality of ICC judges involved in the case, further complicating proceedings.

Despite these efforts, the ICC’s pre-trial chamber rejected Israel’s jurisdictional challenges, maintaining that there are reasonable grounds for its pursuit of a case.