ICC Issues Arrest Warrant for Israeli PM Netanyahu, Hamas Leader Al-Masri

International Criminal Court (ICC) has reportedly issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to reports, along with Netanyahu, ICC has also issued an arrest warrant against former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leer Al-Masri. ICC accused Netanyahu and Gallant of crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, and inhumane acts, as well as war crime of starvation as a method of warfare over ongoing conflict in Gaza. y allegedly restricted essential supplies such as food, water, and medical aid to civilians in Gaza, leing to severe humanitarian crises and deaths, including among children.

ICC said re were “reasonable grounds" to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant “bear criminal responsibility for war crime of starvation as a method of warfare".

In its statement, ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I, a panel of three judges, said it has rejected appeals by Israel challenging its jurisdiction. chamber said arrest warrants are classified as “secret" but that it has decided to release m because “conduct similar to that dressed in warrant of arrest appears to be ongoing," referring to ongoing Israeli onslaught on Gaza and continued detention of Israeli captives by Hamas. 

Chamber Accused Netanyahu, Gallant of Starvation as Method of Warfare

Chamber also accused Netanyahu and Gallant of “intentionally and knowingly depriving" Gaza’s civilians of food, water, medicine, medical supplies, fuel and electricity.

Israel h launched attacks on Gaza in retaliation for surprise attack by Hamas on October 7 last year. war between Israel and Hamas has led to death of thousands of civilians, while lakhs have been displaced. key infrastructures in Gaza, including hospitals and schools, were also reduced to rubbles as Israel vowed to wipe out Hamas.

Court also found reasonable grounds to believe accused intentionally targeted civilians and limited medical supplies, forcing unsafe medical procedures, which caused immense suffering. court ruling was based on findings from at least October 8, 2023, until at least May 20, 2024.

" Chamber assessed that re are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for war crime of intentionally directing attacks against civilian population of Gaza," court said.

Hague-based court also issued a warrant for Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, Hamas military chief also known as Mohammed Deif. However, Israel claimed in August that it h killed Deif in an airstrike in Gaza earlier this year.

Israel Rejects Warrant

International Criminal Court dismissed two challenges by Israel against its jurisdiction in situation in State of Palestine.

Israel h contested ICC's jurisdiction, claiming it could not be exercised without Israel’s consent. However, Chamber ruled that Court has jurisdiction based on Palestine’s territorial scope, including Gaza, West Bank, and East Jerusalem. It noted Israel’s objections were premature, as jurisdictional challenges under Rome Statute can only be me after an arrest warrant is issued.

Israel h also requested a fresh notification regarding investigation, initiated in 2021. court rejected this, stating Israel h earlier declined to request a deferral, making ditional notifications unnecessary.