ICC Chief Prosecutor Urges Swift Action on Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu
The International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor, Han, has sent a request to the ICC Preliminary Examination Chamber No. 1 in The Hague, Netherlands, according to Israel’s Channel 12 television. The request involves issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas officials Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed al-Dayf. Han also requested that Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran, be removed from the list.
Han stated that the deteriorating situation in Palestine and ongoing crimes made the arrest warrants inevitable. However, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s press office responded by calling Han’s comparison of Netanyahu and Gallant with Sinvar “anti-Semitism.” The statement claimed that the actions in The Hague were political rather than lawful.
On May 20, Han announced that he had applied for an arrest warrant against Netanyahu and Gallant, citing their alleged criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip as of October 8, 2023. The ICC also received applications for arrest warrants for Hamas officials Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, and Muhammed al-Dayf.
This development has further heightened tensions between Israel and the ICC, with both sides standing firm in their positions regarding the legal and political implications of the requested arrest warrants. The situation remains complex and will likely continue to evolve as the ICC deliberates on the matter.
