Israel is increasingly being criticized for its actions in the Gaza Strip. According to reports, several Israelis could face arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court in The Hague – including Prime Minister Netanyahu.
According to media reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fears that the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague could issue arrest warrants against him and other Israelis. The Israeli government assumes that chief prosecutor Karim Khan could issue international arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Defense Minister Joav Gallant and Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi this week, Israeli media reported.
An anonymous Israeli government source told the Times of Israel that Israel was doing everything it could to avert the feared arrest warrants. The Foreign Ministry is also involved. “We operate where we can,” said an Israeli diplomat.
Netanyahu accepts Criminal Court not
The Criminal Court has been investigating Hamas and Israel for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip since 2021. Investigations are also underway into violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Netanyahu is extremely concerned about possible arrests that would mean a dramatic deterioration in Israel’s international reputation, the reports said.
The head of government wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday that under his leadership, Israel “will never accept any attempt by the Criminal Court to undermine its inherent right to self-defense.” He also wrote: “The threat to capture soldiers and representatives of the only democracy in the Middle East and the only Jewish state in the world is outrageous.” Israel will “continue the just war until victory against terrorists bent on genocide.”
Such a decision by the Criminal Court would not affect Israel’s actions, but would “set a dangerous precedent that threatens the soldiers and representatives of all democracies who are fighting brutal terrorism and reckless aggression,” Netanyahu said.
Prosecution because of alleged war crimes
Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz ordered all Israeli missions to immediately prepare for a “serious anti-Semitic, anti-Jewish and anti-Israel wave in the world.” Security measures around Jewish institutions should also be increased, said a ministry spokesman in response to the instructions to the embassies.
Legally, an ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu and other Israeli citizens would mean that states that have signed the ICC statutes would be obliged to arrest these people and hand them over to the Court – provided they enter the territory of these states.
The International Criminal Court prosecutes individuals for suspected war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Israel does not recognize the court. But the Palestinian territories are a contracting state. Therefore, the prosecutor can also investigate.
hostage relatives call for investigations against Hamas
In contrast, the International Court of Justice, also based in The Hague, is supposed to resolve conflicts between states. This highest UN court recently warned Israel to do everything possible to prevent possible genocide in the Gaza Strip.
Relatives of hostages held by the Islamist Hamas called on the Criminal Court in February to investigate the leaders of the terrorist organization and issue arrest warrants. They called for criminal investigations into hostage-taking, violent sexual crimes, torture and murder.