For war crimes

Arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Hamas leader

Serious accusations against Israel's head of government - were war crimes committed under his aegis?

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Getty Images/Screenshot)

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip. An arrest warrant has also been issued for the leader of Hamas. While Israel is fuming, Hamas welcomes the decision.

This was announced by the court on Thursday. ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan had already applied for arrest warrants against Israel's head of government Netanyahu and his defence minister Yoav Gallant as well as against the leaders of the terrorist organization Hamas in May for alleged crimes against humanity and alleged war crimes.

In his application, Khan accused Netanyahu and Gallant of alleged "targeted killings", "starvation" and "destruction and/or murder" in the course of the Gaza war.

Gaza war response to inconceivable terrorist attack
In response to a major attack by the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas, in which at least 1160 people were killed and 252 abducted, Israel is taking massive military action in the Gaza Strip.

According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, which cannot be independently verified, more than 43,000 people have been killed so far.

Israel: "Anti-Semitic"
In an initial reaction, Netanyahu's office called the arrest warrants "anti-Semitic" and spoke of absurd and wrong steps. Israel will not give in to pressure and will continue to defend its citizens.

The situation in the Gaza Strip is precarious - young people in particular are suffering from the terrorists' brutal conflict with Israel.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Eyad BABA)

The arrest warrants are a "sign of shame" for the ICC, said Israeli ex-prime minister Naftali Bennett in an initial reaction. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid described the court's move as a "reward for terrorism".

The Central Council of Jews in Germany also spoke of an "absurdity". Israel is defending itself after the massacre of October 7, 2023, but the "semantic dualism of putting Israel on the same level as Hamas borders on impudence and a completely misguided understanding of the office of an international criminal court as a result of anti-Israel propaganda".

Hamas: Important step
Hamas, on the other hand, welcomed the arrest warrants. This would benefit the Palestinian cause. A Hamas representative spoke of an important step towards justice. The Palestinian ambassador in Vienna, Salah Abdel Shafi, also welcomed the "long-overdue step".

It is expected that all states parties will implement the ICC's decision "with all its consequences" for Netanyahu and Gallant, Shafi emphasized in a statement.

Much criticism internationally
The Chief Prosecutor's request for the arrest warrants already caused shock waves internationally. Numerous states had submitted legal opinions on this issue to the court. These were taken into account by the judges in their decision on the application.

In May, Netanyahu had already called the accuser Khan "one of the great anti-Semites of modern times". Israel's most important ally, the USA, had also spoken out against the arrest warrants. Other countries such as France, on the other hand, backed the tribunal.

The investigations of the World Criminal Court are independent of ongoing proceedings on the violence in the Gaza Strip before the International Court of Justice. This highest UN court, also based in The Hague, aims to resolve disputes between states. South Africa had sued Israel for genocide before this court.