ICC prosecutor urges swift action on arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant

The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan has called for urgent action on arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, reaffirming the court’s authority to investigate Israeli nationals for alleged crimes in Palestinian territories.

In newly released court documents, Khan stressed the need for prompt decisions to avoid further compromising victims’ rights, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

He underscored that the ICC’s jurisdiction over Israeli nationals accused of atrocity crimes is well-established, countering legal objections from various governments and organizations.

Khan’s filing dismissed arguments citing the Oslo Accords and Israel’s internal investigations into alleged war crimes, asserting that the ICC's jurisdiction in this matter is unequivocally established by international law.

The ICC is currently deliberating on arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Al-Masri (also known as Mohammed Deif), and Ismail Haniyeh, all of whom face allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Haniyeh was reportedly assassinated in Iran in late July, and the court has yet to comment on his death. Israel has claimed responsibility for killing Al-Masri in an airstrike, but Hamas has not confirmed this.

The ongoing conflict, ignited by a Hamas attack that resulted in about 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages, has caused a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with nearly 40,000 Palestinians reported killed in Israel’s subsequent military actions. Both Israeli and Palestinian leaders have rejected the war crimes allegations and criticized Khan’s push for the arrest warrants.