Israel to appeal ICC arrest warrants against PM Netanyahu and ex-Minister Gallant

Israel has announced it will appeal the International Criminal Court's (ICC) decision to issue arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over charges related to the war in Gaza.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) stated that the appeal would challenge the jurisdiction of the ICC and describe the arrest warrants as "absurd" and "without foundation," Caliber.Az reports, citing Israeli media.

The arrest warrants were issued on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, specifically accusing Netanyahu and Gallant of using starvation as a method of warfare and targeting civilians during the conflict. These allegations include hindering the supply of international aid to Gaza, along with accusations of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.

The PMO also requested that the implementation of the arrest warrants be delayed while the appeal is pending. Although the court has already issued the warrants, it retains the discretion to suspend them during the appeal process.

Further complicating matters, Netanyahu met with U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham in Jerusalem, where the senator updated the prime minister on efforts within the U.S. Congress to take action against the ICC and its member countries. There is speculation that the incoming Trump administration may sanction the ICC in response to these developments.

Israel has long rejected the ICC's jurisdiction, arguing that as a non-member state, it is not bound by the court's rulings. Additionally, Israel maintains that the "State of Palestine" does not possess the legal standing to transfer jurisdiction to the ICC, a claim that the court has dismissed in previous rulings. Israel is now preparing for the next phase of legal challenges, focusing on procedural issues such as the failure of the ICC to notify Israel about the investigation into Gaza's war crimes.

Israel's appeal could have broader geopolitical implications, potentially further straining relations between Israel and international bodies like the ICC, and showcasing the legal and political challenges surrounding the court’s authority over non-member states.

By Khagan Isayev