Media: Israel seeks legal protections for military personnel amid ceasefire negotiations

As ceasefire negotiations continue, Israel has reportedly emphasized the need for legal protections for its military personnel in light of ongoing international legal actions. The demands come amid heightened concerns over cases targeting Israeli officials and soldiers in international courts.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is currently hearing a case accusing Israel of war crimes, while the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. Israeli officials also suspect the existence of additional undisclosed warrants targeting Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officers and soldiers, whose personal information has been publicly exposed through media and social networks, Israel Hayom reports.

Beyond these high-profile cases, Israeli diplomats and legal teams are contending with increasing instances of former soldiers being detained or questioned abroad amid growing anti-Israel sentiment. According to sources familiar with the negotiations, Israel has raised these concerns as a critical condition, insisting that any ceasefire agreement must include measures to address these legal threats.

Whether these demands will be incorporated into the so-called "21-point plan" remains uncertain, as resolving such complex legal challenges requires coordination with third-party states and international organizations.

The ICC operates under the auspices of the United Nations Security Council, which theoretically has the authority to suspend ICC investigations. However, for such a suspension to be effective, Israel would require guarantees that permanent Security Council members Russia and China would not exercise their veto power. Conversely, the ICJ functions as an independent judicial body, making it significantly more difficult to halt its proceedings against Israel.

Reports indicate that the broader war-ending agreement includes provisions granting immunity from prosecution to Gaza-based militants. A source involved in the talks expressed deep concern over this disparity, stating, "It cannot be that they will receive international immunity while our people are pursued and arrested."

By Vafa Guliyeva