The International Criminal Court is investigating Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for possible war crimes. Concern about an arrest warrant is growing in the government.
Sometimes it’s small reports that show how much a matter is being fought behind the scenes and also how nervous someone is.
On Friday, the Office of the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court announced that it was opposing any influence. Efforts to hinder and intimidate employees of the International Criminal Court – ICC for short – must be stopped immediately.
It’s a tough fight. No wonder: after all, it is also a question of whether charges of war crimes will be brought against Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli politicians and military officials.
“The laws of war must be respected”
Exactly what this prosecution might look like is unclear. Experts speculate that the Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, may consider the reduced access of food to the Gaza Strip as a war crime. Khan himself doesn’t show his hand in an interview with the Arabic broadcaster Al Jazeera.
“The laws of war must be respected,” said Khan. “They must not be interpreted hollowly. They must not be interpreted in such a way that we do not understand them or that the protection that the Geneva Conventions offer to those most at risk, namely children, women, the sick or civilians, is undermined . Full protection must be provided here.”
Netanyahu defends himself against allegations
With around 35,000 deaths in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war – these are the figures published by the United Nations, including many thousands of civilians – it is hardly possible to speak of this protection. Which is certainly due to Hamas – it abuses the civilian population as human shields. But what is also due to Israel’s conduct of the war is criticized by many internationally.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is resisting this: “They want to put us in the dock. And they want to do so while we defend ourselves against genocidal terrorists and regimes, especially against Iran, which is openly working to destroy the only Jewish state,” said Netanyahu. “For the first time, a democratic country fighting for its survival under the rules of war is itself accused of war crimes.”
Concern about an arrest warrant against Netanyahu
In Israel itself, there is growing concern within the government that an international arrest warrant could be issued against Prime Minister Netanyahu. Israel has not signed the ICC statutes. Signatory states – such as Germany – would then be obliged to arrest these people and hand them over to the Court of Justice if they enter the territory of these states.
And: Netanyahu would then be on the same level as actual or suspected war criminals like Milosevic or Putin. This is precisely why the USA is taking a stand against this scenario. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said: “So for us the matter is clear. We do not support the ICC investigation. We do not believe that the court has jurisdiction.”
Welcome opportunity for Netanyahu opponents
The issue has not yet been central to the people of Israel. That could change if charges were actually brought. For Netanyahu’s opponents, it would be a welcome opportunity to get rid of the hated permanent prime minister, whom they accuse of blatant failure on October 7th.
“I think he deserves it,” says one man. “I am absolutely against the way he is running this country. But whether an international arrest warrant is really the right solution. I don’t know.”
And a woman says: “Maybe in this way we can do what we couldn’t do. Get rid of him. Everyone here suffers because of him. And that would also prevent Rafah from being attacked.”
Hamas leaders are also being investigated
But it’s not just Netanyahu who is in the focus of the International Criminal Court, but also Hamas representatives. Especially the political leadership of the terrorist organization, which is in Qatar and Lebanon.
A delegation of relatives of the hostages recently traveled to The Hague to file a lawsuit against the Hamas leadership. Udi Goren, whose cousin was killed on October 7th, is one of the initiators. He hopes for the ICC.
“We, the families of the hostages, want to ensure that the world acts and that their freedom is restricted just as ours is now being restricted,” Goren said. “And we want to make sure they pay for their crimes. Crimes they are still committing by taking our families hostage. We want warrants issued for their arrest and that puts pressure on them to do so release hostages.”