The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Karim Khan, has requested that the court’s judges not delay issuing arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. In his message to the judges, Khan emphasized that any unjustified delay in this action would impact the rights of victims in the Palestinian territories. He also urged the judges to reject the legal appeals submitted concerning the arrest warrants, according to Israeli media reports.
Khan had previously announced in May that he was seeking arrest orders for Netanyahu and Gallant due to suspected crimes, including “causing genocide, using starvation as a method of warfare, including the deprivation of humanitarian relief supplies, and deliberately targeting civilians in conflict.” He also indicated his intention to issue arrest warrants for Hamas leaders, including Yahya Sinwar.
In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz condemned the ICC’s request, calling it a “historic disgrace that will be remembered forever.” He mentioned the establishment of a special war room to counter the ICC’s move to issue arrest orders. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also reacted strongly, labeling the ICC’s decision a “scandal” and declaring that it would not deter him or Israel.
On the other hand, Hamas strongly condemned the ICC prosecutor’s attempts to “equate the victim with the oppressor by issuing arrest warrants against several leaders of the movement.”
