Faith Nyasuguta
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The decision, announced Thursday, comes amid accusations of widespread human rights abuses in Gaza, where local officials report over 44,000 deaths from the Israeli military’s yearlong campaign.
According to the ICC, Netanyahu and Gallant are charged with depriving Gaza’s civilian population of essential resources such as food, water, medicine, and fuel. The court also accuses them of using starvation as a method of warfare and directing attacks against civilians. The indictment states that their actions hindered humanitarian efforts to provide relief to the enclave.
Israel reacted angrily, rejecting the ICC’s jurisdiction and labeling the warrants “antisemitic” and “absurd.” Netanyahu’s office denounced the ICC as a “biased and discriminatory political body.” Israeli President Isaac Herzog described the development as a “dark day for justice” and a “dark day for humanity,” accusing the ICC of undermining its credibility.
Hamas, however, welcomed the ICC’s move as a step toward accountability. Senior Hamas official Basem Naim praised the warrants but emphasized their symbolic nature unless supported by global enforcement efforts.
The ICC’s investigation into alleged war crimes in Gaza began three years ago, covering actions by both Israel and Palestinian militants since the 2014 Israel-Hamas conflict. Thursday’s arrest warrants specifically address crimes committed between October 8, 2023, and May 20, 2024, during intensified hostilities.
The charges against Netanyahu and Gallant also include accusations of bearing responsibility as “civilian superiors” for war crimes such as persecution, murder, and inhumane acts. ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan had signaled in May his intent to seek warrants for senior Israeli officials, alongside leaders of Hamas.
The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Mohammed Deif, whom Israel accused of orchestrating the October 7, 2023, attacks. Those attacks resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the taking of around 250 hostages. Israel claims to have killed Deif earlier this year, but the ICC maintains its warrant due to his alleged involvement in crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The court initially sought arrest warrants for other prominent Hamas leaders, including Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh, but those applications were withdrawn following their confirmed deaths.
Israel, along with the United States, does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction. The court lacks enforcement mechanisms, relying on its 125 member states to execute arrests. This places Netanyahu and Gallant at risk of detention should they travel to ICC member countries, many of which are in Europe.
Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, welcomed the warrants, calling them a step toward justice for Palestinians. Roth added that countries providing military support to Israel, particularly the U.S., should reconsider their actions in light of ongoing violations. He warned that such governments risk being complicit in aiding these crimes.
Netanyahu dismissed the ICC’s chief prosecutor as a “rogue prosecutor” targeting Israel, the “one and only Jewish state.” Despite his denials, the warrants signal a significant escalation in international efforts to address alleged war crimes in Gaza.
As legal and diplomatic battles unfold, the warrants have drawn sharp divisions between supporters and critics of the ICC. The court’s actions amplify scrutiny on the conflict and place the spotlight on the accountability of global powers involved in the region.
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