ICC Seeks Arrest Warrants For Netanyahu, Hamas Leader Sinwar For “Crimes Against Humanity”
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has pulled the trigger on issuing its controversial arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after months of speculation it may not go through with it amid a Washington pressure campaign. Its chief prosecutor Karim Khan revealed Monday that the world court is seeking arrest warrants for the leaders of Israel who are executing the war in Gaza, also including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Monday’s action marks the first time ever that the Hague-based court has targeted a national leader of a close US ally. Netanyahu is now set to be on the court’s ‘wanted’ list alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The prosecutor said that there were “reasonable grounds to believe Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu bears criminal responsibility for war crimes, crimes against humanity” and that an application is being filed Monday. The ICC judges are set to review the applications submitted by Khan for the arrest warrants for they formally go into effect.
Kahn further announced that the charges stem from the crimes of “causing extermination, causing starvation as a method of war including the denial of humanitarian relief supplies, deliberately targeting civilians in conflict.”
The ICC is also seeking the arrest warrant of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, and Mohammed Deif, leader of the Al-Qassem Brigades, and Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas.
As for the three Hamas leaders, they are being sought over the Oct.7 terror attacking, and war crimes including murder, the kidnapping of hostages, as sexual abuse.
