November 21, 2024, The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued Netanyahu arrest warrants who is Israeli Prime Minister and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Alleged Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes
The ICC accuses Netanyahu and Gallant of:
- Murder
- Persecution
- Inhumane acts
- Starvation as a method of warfare
These actions allegedly led to severe humanitarian crises, deaths, and displacement of civilians in Gaza, including children.
Background of the Israel-Gaza Conflict
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in thousands of civilian deaths and widespread destruction of infrastructure, including hospitals and schools. Israel launched attacks on Gaza in response to Hamas’s surprise attack on October 7, 2023.
ICC Ruling and Jurisdiction
The ICC found reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant bear criminal responsibility for intentionally directing attacks against civilians in Gaza. The court’s ruling was based on findings from October 8, 2023, to May 20, 2024.
Israel’s Challenges Rejected: The ICC dismissed two challenges by Israel against its jurisdiction in the State of Palestine. Israel claimed that the ICC’s jurisdiction could not be exercised without its consent.
