The ICC’s chief prosecutor submitted a formal request in May this year to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and others for alleged war crimes.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu faces ICC arrest warrant. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of committing war crimes.
According to international news agencies, the ICC has also issued warrants for former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Mohammed Deif, head of Hamas’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades.
The ICC’s chief prosecutor submitted a formal request in May this year to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and others for alleged war crimes.
The move comes amid the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza, which began on October 7. Reports indicate that more than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 17,000 children, while more than 104,000 people have been injured in the conflict.
The unprecedented move by the ICC marks a significant step in securing accountability for the escalating violence in Gaza. However, it remains to be seen how these warrants will be enforced given the geopolitical complexities involved.
Israel’s Crimes Against Humanity in Gaza
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has condemned Israeli authorities for the mass, deliberate forced displacement of Palestinian civilians in Gaza since October 2023, calling it a violation of international law and a crime against humanity. In a new report, “Hopeless, Starving, and Besieged,” HRW outlines how Israel’s military actions have displaced over 1.9 million Palestinians, with widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, including homes, hospitals, and schools. Despite Israeli claims of military necessity, HRW argues that there is no justification for the scale of displacement, which is exacerbated by airstrikes on evacuation routes and safe zones, leaving civilians trapped in dire conditions.
The report highlights Israel’s use of controlled demolitions to create “buffer zones” and “security corridors” in Gaza, likely intended to permanently displace Palestinians. It also criticizes Israel for blocking essential humanitarian aid and preventing displaced individuals from returning home. HRW describes these actions as part of a broader policy of ethnic cleansing aimed at reducing Gaza’s population and securing territory for Israeli settlers.
HRW is calling on international governments to condemn Israel’s actions as war crimes, and urges the International Criminal Court to investigate the forced displacement and prevent further violations. The report also warns that continued military support for Israel from countries like the U.S. and Germany risks complicity in these atrocities.
