Israeli Channel 12 reported today that Israel’s assessments confirm that the International Criminal Court (ICC) will soon issue arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant, and that this action cannot be prevented. The report added that Netanyahu, along with the Justice Minister, requested the government’s legal advisor to initiate a criminal investigation to block the ICC’s arrest warrants.
The channel further stated that the legal advisor rejected Netanyahu’s and the Justice Minister’s proposal due to lack of justification, affirming that she would not initiate a sham investigation.
ICC is preparing to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on allegations of war crimes, including the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and willful killing. These charges relate to actions in the Gaza strip, and are part of broader allegations that also include crimes against humanity. This development follows ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan’s filing, which expressed urgency due to the ongoing violence and potential for interference with investigations by the accused.
This situation marks a significant move by the ICC, aiming to address long-standing issues of impunity in the region and restore the credibility of the international justice system. The potential issuance of warrants also puts pressure on ICC member states, which would be legally obliged to arrest the individuals should they enter their territories.