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Pressure on Israel’s leadership over the conduct of its military operation against Hamas increased when the International Criminal Court issued
An arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for suspected war crimes in the Gaza Strip. Regarding Israel’s continuing assault against the Iran-backed terrorist organization,
The Hague-based court made its decision Thursday in response to a request made to judges by the ICC’s top prosecutor in May.
Additionally, the court issued warrants for Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas, and Yoav Gallant, the former Israeli Defense Minister, who Israel claims was assassinated in Gaza months ago.
The Israeli government has disputed the accusations on several occasions, claiming that its actions against Hamas, which the US has classified as a terrorist group,
Are legal under international law. Following the issuance of the warrants, Netanyahu’s office released a statement saying,
“Israel rejects the absurd and false actions and accusations.” “Israel will continue to defend its citizens despite any anti-Israel ruling.”
See Also: Why the ICC Issued an Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu of Israel: A Brief Overview The UK, France, Germany, and Canada are among the numerous.
Western friends of Israel that have signed the ICC. That implies that if Netanyahu and Gallant arrive, they must be arrested, but nothing would compel them to do so.
Leaders from Canada and the Netherlands said they will abide by the warrants. Meanwhile, Argentina’s President Javier Milei voiced “deep disagreement” with the ICC ruling,
While Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban called it “shameful.” However, nobody of Netanyahu’s supporters went so far as to declare that they would disregard the warrants.
Israel’s principal supporter, the United States, has rejected the court’s jurisdiction and is not a signatory. “It is ridiculous that the ICC issued arrest warrants against Israeli leaders,”
Said President Joe Biden. Let me reiterate: Israel and Hamas are not comparable, regardless of what the ICC may suggest. When Israel faces dangers to its security, we will always support it.
According to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the prosecutor made “troubling process errors” and did not provide Israel with a “meaningful opportunity” to participate.
An Israeli source speaking about private discussions said that Israel wanted the Biden administration to adopt a severe stance on the ICC .
The ICC has no credibility and these allegations have been refuted by the U.S. government.
Israel has lawfully defended its people & borders from genocidal terrorists. You can expect a strong response to the antisemitic bias of the ICC & UN come January. https://t.co/jIalwzooeS
— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) November 21, 2024
And implement sanctions that would, among other things, bar its staff from entering the US. Israel thinks President-elect Donald Trump will take action if Biden does not.
According to the person, punishing nations that submit to the ICC’s arrest order is one of the other possibilities under discussion.
In response to the ICC’s decision, Trump’s national security advisor, Representative Michael Waltz, said the court lacked credibility.
Waltz said on X that when Trump takes office in January, “you can expect a strong response to the anti-Semitic bias of the ICC.”
After the Islamist organization attacked the southern region of Israel on October 7, 2023, murdering over 1,200 people and capturing 250 captive, Israel declared war on Hamas.
Israel’s ensuing attack in Gaza has killed some 44,000 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and fighters.
According to the court, the warrants were “for crimes against humanity and war crimes.” The crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other cruel deeds are among them, as is “starvation as a method of warfare.”
Protests have been sparked by the fighting in the US, Europe, and the Arab world, and most of Gaza has been devastated.
According to the UN, there is a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, and relief agencies are finding it difficult to provide enough supplies.
Israel has been encouraged by the US and other nations to let more gasoline, food, and medication. “The right to defend” Isaac Herzog,
The president of Israel, said that the ICC ruling ignored the suffering of the approximately 100 captives that Hamas still holds and the organization’s use of civilians as human shields.
“It disregards the fundamental reality that Israel was brutally attacked and has the obligation and right to protect its citizens,” Herzog said on X.
“It disregards the reality that Israel is a thriving democracy that complies with international humanitarian law and goes above and beyond to meet the humanitarian needs of its civilian populace.”
Only those that have ratified the ICC’s founding treaty are subject to its jurisdiction. While the “State of Palestine,” which includes Gaza and the West Bank, is a signatory,
Israel, along with China, the US, and Russia, is not. Warrants against incumbent leaders are seldom issued by the court.
It issued one for Russian President Vladimir Putin last year for war crimes including the purported expulsion of Ukrainian children.
Although it has caused Putin to be cautious when visiting signatory nations, he did visit Mongolia in September, which came under fire from throughout the world for not enforcing the warrant.
Without identifying the individuals attempting to obstruct its investigations, the ICC prosecutor’s office issued an order earlier this year to stop threats against court staff.
— With help from Romy Varghese, Greg Sullivan, Dan Williams, Zoltan Simon, Marissa Newman, and Alisa Odenheimer