The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) prosecutor, Karim Khan, has requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and three senior Hamas leaders.
The request is based on alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the conflict in Gaza.
Khan stated that there are reasonable grounds to believe the five individuals bear criminal responsibility for the alleged crimes.
However, it is important to note that the ICC has not yet issued the warrants, and a panel of pre-trial judges will review the evidence to determine whether the warrants will be issued.
The ICC has faced opposition from the United States and Israel, and representatives from both sides have criticized the decision.
The court has no means to enforce the warrants, and its investigation into the Gaza war has been met with resistance.
It is important to note that the ICC is a court of last resort, and it only intervenes when a state is unwilling or unable to investigate and prosecute alleged war crimes domestically.
The ICC has 124 member states, and if the warrants are issued, member states will be obligated to arrest the individuals if they enter their territory.
The situation is complex, and the conflict has resulted in significant human suffering, with at least 35,000 Palestinians killed and widespread shortages of essential supplies.
The ICC’s decision has sparked a diplomatic backlash, with some countries and individuals criticizing the move as “outrageous” and “illegitimate.”
Others have hailed it as a “watershed event” in international justice.
