Fri Sep 20 12:10:51 UTC 2024: ## Israel Challenges ICC Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant

**JERUSALEM** – Israel has officially challenged the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) request for arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced on Friday.

The ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, had requested the warrants in May, accusing the two Israeli leaders of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. These accusations stem from Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group, which launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7th.

Israel maintains that the ICC lacks jurisdiction in this case and has argued that Khan failed to give Israel the opportunity to investigate the claims itself before proceeding. Khan’s charges include accusations of starvation of civilians, extermination, and intentionally targeting civilians.

The ICC, the world’s only independent court dedicated to investigating the most severe crimes, including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, is still considering Khan’s application for arrest warrants.

Meanwhile, Khan had initially also requested warrants for top Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohammed Deif. However, he withdrew the application for Haniyeh following his death in Tehran on July 31st. Deif was allegedly killed by an Israeli airstrike on July 13th, a claim Hamas denies.

The ICC relies on its member states to execute arrest warrants as it does not have its own police force. The outcome of Israel’s challenge and the ICC’s final decision on the arrest warrants remain to be seen.

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