Accusation of war crimes
Media: Netanyahu fears arrest warrant from criminal court
April 28, 2024, 2:08 p.m
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Israel is increasingly being criticized for its actions in the Gaza Strip. According to reports, international arrest warrants for suspected war crimes are imminent – including against Prime Minister Netanyahu.
According to media reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expects that the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague could issue arrest warrants against him and other Israelis. The Israeli government assumes that chief prosecutor Karim Khan could issue international arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Defense Minister Joav Galant and Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi this week, Israeli media report. Netanyahu is extremely concerned about possible arrests that would mean a dramatic deterioration in Israel’s international reputation.
Since 2021, the Criminal Court has been investigating Hamas, but also Israel, for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip. Investigations are also underway into the violence committed by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
“Outrageous”
Netanyahu quit X announced on Friday that under his leadership Israel would “never accept an attempt by the Criminal Court to undermine its inherent right to self-defense.” The head of government also wrote: “The threat to capture soldiers and representatives of the only democracy in the Middle East and the only Jewish state in the world is outrageous.” Israel will “continue the just war until victory against terrorists bent on genocide.”
Such a decision by the criminal court would not affect Israel’s actions, but would “set a dangerous precedent that threatens the soldiers and representatives of all democracies who are fighting brutal terrorism and reckless aggression,” Netanyahu wrote. Legally, an ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu would mean that states that have signed the ICC statutes would be obliged to arrest the Israeli head of government and hand him over to the court – provided they enter the territory of these states.
First Putin, now Netanyahu?
Chief prosecutor Karim Khan has already issued four international arrest warrants for suspected war crimes against high-ranking Russians, including President Vladimir Putin. The International Criminal Court prosecutes individuals for suspected war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Israel does not recognize the court, but the Palestinian territories are a contracting state. Therefore, the prosecutor can also investigate.
Relatives of Israeli hostages called on the Criminal Court in February to investigate and issue arrest warrants against the kidnappers of the terrorist organization Hamas. They called for criminal investigations into hostage-taking, violent sexual crimes, torture and murder.
In the Hamas attacks in the Israeli border area on October 7, around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were kidnapped as hostages in the Gaza Strip. The attacks triggered Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip, which has so far killed more than 34,400 people, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority.