International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Netherlands

By Gary Raynaldo    –   DIPLOMATIC   TIMES

The International Criminal Court  is seeking arrest warrants for Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on charges of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The chief prosecutor of the ICC Karim Khan said in a statement Monday the Hague-based war tribunal is also seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and two other leaders of Hamas: Ismail Haniyeh and Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes. In reference to Netanyahu and Gallant, Khan said the charges include “starvation of civilians as a method of warfare” and “wilful killing” among others. Regarding the Hamas leaders, charges include  “extermination” and “sexual violence during captivity”. Khan said he has “reasonable grounds to believe” the men bear responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The charges stem from the October 7th  Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent war in Gaza. The ICC has been investigating Israel’s actions in Gaza for the past three years. Since October 7, more than 1,200 Israelis have been killed. At least 35,562 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza. 

“Today we once again underline that international law and the laws of armed conflict apply to all. No foot soldier, no commander, no civilian leader – no one – can act with impunity. Nothing can justify wilfully depriving human beings, including so many women and children, the basic necessities required for life. Nothing can justify the taking of hostages or the targeting of civilians.”

-ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan

International Criminal Court Prosecutor, Karim A.A. Khan QC. (Credit: icc-cpi.int)

President Biden Condemns ICC Move Against Israel’s  Leaders As “Outrageous” 

Israeli politicians denounced the ICC action as “scandalous” and a “political disgrace.”  President Joe Biden condemned the move against Israel’s leaders as “outrageous”, saying “there is no equivalence” between Israel and Hamas.  The Biden State Department said the U.S. takes strong issue with the ICC equating Israel with “brutal terrorist organization” Hamas.

“The United States fundamentally rejects the announcement today from the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) that he is applying for arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials, together with warrants for Hamas terrorists. We reject the Prosecutor’s equivalence of Israel with Hamas.  It is shameful. Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization that carried out the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and is still holding dozens of innocent people hostage, including Americans.”

-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken

The Secretary of State added that “the United States has been clear since well before the current conflict that that ICC has no jurisdiction over this matter.”  Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by many countries.