The International Criminal Court's top prosecutor, Karim Khan, says that he was seeking arrest warrants for Israel's prime minister and defense minister, as well as three Hamas commanders for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
The ruling elicited a variety of reactions. According to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, the announcement is "beyond outrageous and shows the extent to which the international judicial system is in danger of collapsing."
The chief prosecutor of the world's top war crimes court issued arrest warrants on Monday for Israeli and Hamas officials, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for activities performed during their seven-month conflict.
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While Netanyahu and his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, are not facing imminent arrest, the statement by the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor was a symbolic blow that deepened Israel’s isolation over the war in Gaza.
Karim Khan charged Netanyahu, Gallant, and three Hamas officials — Yehya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh — with war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip and Israel.
Netanyahu and other Israeli authorities blasted the decision as disgusting and anti-Semitic. US President Joe Biden also criticized the prosecutor and defended Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas.
A panel of three judges will determine whether to issue arrest warrants and proceed with the case. The judges usually take two months to make such determinations.
Netanyahu described the prosecutor's claims against him as a "disgrace," as well as an attack on the Israeli military and the entire country. He promised to continue Israel's assault against Hamas.
Hamas also condemned the ICC prosecutor's efforts, stating that the proposal to arrest its leaders "equates the victim with the executioner."
