Tel Aviv requests ICC to revoke arrest warrants against top Israeli officials

Israel has formally requested that judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) revoke the arrest warrants issued against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

This request was made while the ICC reviews Israel's legal challenges to the court's jurisdiction over the Gaza conflict, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

The documents, published on the ICC’s official website on May 11, reveal that Israel has also called for the suspension of the ICC's investigation into alleged atrocity crimes committed in the Palestinian Territories. The request, dated May 9, was signed by Israeli Deputy Attorney General Gilad Noam.

The arrest warrants were originally issued on November 21 for Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim al-Masri (also known as Mohammed Deif) in connection with alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza conflict. However, the ICC later withdrew the warrant for al-Masri in February, following credible reports of his death.

Israel, which rejects the ICC’s jurisdiction and denies committing war crimes in Gaza, has consistently contested the warrants against its officials. In April, the ICC’s appeals chamber ruled that the judges from the pre-trial chamber who issued the warrants must review Israel’s objections concerning the court's jurisdiction and the legality of the arrest orders.

As of now, it remains unclear what specific form this review will take, nor are there set deadlines for the ICC to make decisions on Israel’s request to withdraw the warrants or to suspend the investigation.

By Vafa Guliyeva