ICC Issues Arrest Warrant against Israeli PM Netanyahu, Former Defense Minister Galant for War Crimes in Palestine

CAIRO- 21 November 2024: The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamine Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minster Yoav Gallant.

The Pre-trial Chamber 1 of the ICC issued on Thursday the arrest warrant against Netanyahu and Gallant for commuting “crimes against humanity and hewar crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024, the day the Prosecution filed the applications for warrants of arrest.” 

“The Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu, born on 21 October 1949, Prime Minister of Israel at the time of the relevant conduct, and Mr Gallant, born on 8 November 1958, Minister of Defence of Israel at the time of the alleged conduct, each bear criminal responsibility for the following crimes as co-perpetrators for committing the acts jointly with others: the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts,” the court said in a statement.

In a statement, the Hamas movement welcomed the court’s decision and call d for expanding the scope of accountability against the Israeli officials over war crimes against the Palestinians. 

The movement added that this step “constitutes an important historical precedent, and a correction to a long path of historical injustice against our people.”

Also, member of the Hamas Political Bureau Izzat Al-Rishq said: “Regardless of the possibility of implementation [of ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant], the revealed truth is that international justice is on our side and against the zionist entity.”

“This growing awareness and the exposure of the true terrorist nature of the occupying entity serve Palestinian interests, the future of our cause, and our inevitable goal of liberation, God willing, he continued.

He added that  the occupying state opposes the truth, contradicts the principles of justice, and clashes with human values. The brutal terrorism, which enjoys international support, sustains the continued existence of the occupation.

Some European countries like the Netherlands and France announced that they will adhere to the ICC orders.