AFP reports On Thursday, November 21, 2024, the International Criminal Court said The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for key figures involved in war crimes in the Gaza Strip. both Israel and Hamas that is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant. and Mohammed Deif, the military commander of Hamas.
This unprecedented move provoked an angry response from Netanyahu. He said in a statement that “Israel rejects these actions and the baseless and false accusations with disgust.”
“Such an arrest warrant will not stop Israel from defending itself,” the Israeli leader said.
The International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant would theoretically limit Netanyahu’s movements, as the 124 member states would have to arrest him immediately if he enters their territory. Like the case of Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia.
“The court has issued arrest warrants for two people, Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from October 8, 2023 to May 20, 2024. This was the day prosecutors applied for arrest warrants for both,” the International Criminal Court said in a statement.
The court also said that an arrest warrant was also issued for the head of the Hamas army, Mohammed Deif. Even at the beginning of August Israel announced that they had killed Deif in an airplane in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. But Hamas has not confirmed his death. The court then proceeded to issue an arrest warrant. Prosecutors could not find out if Deif had died or not.
The court said: “There are reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant are “Criminally Responsible” for war crimes through starvation, crimes against humanity through murder, persecution and other inhuman acts
The court accused the two men of depriving the civilian population of the Gaza Strip of basic necessities. This includes food, water, medicine, fuel and electricity.
about the war crime of hunger That court explained that “The lack of food, water, electricity, fuel and medicine creates living conditions calculated to destroy part of the civilian population in Gaza.”
The court said that the incident caused the death of a civilian. including children due to lack of nutrition and water
“According to the documents submitted by the prosecutor, until May 20, 2024, the court could not fully conclude that the crimes against humanity involved in the murder are meet all the criteria. “
However, the judge said there were reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity through murder were committed against those victims.
Reed Brody, a former war crimes prosecutor and critic, said these warrants were almost unprecedented. and it is appropriate to receive the judgment
“The International Criminal Court has never indicted a Western official in the last 21 years,” he said.
As Hamas Says: Arrest Warrants for Israeli Officials “An Important Step Towards Justice”
The court said the warrant was classified as “confidential” to protect witnesses and the conduct of the investigation.
“however The court has decided to publish some parts of the arrest warrant. Because actions similar to those specified in the arrest warrant are still ongoing.”
“In addition, the court also believes that it is in the interest of the victims and their families to inform the victims and their families that the arrest warrant exists,” said the court.
Karim Khan, the Prosecutor General of the International Criminal Court, filed a complaint with the court in May. request arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant on charges of war and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip;
Khan also requested an arrest warrant for senior Hamas leaders. Including Mohammed Deif suspected of starting wars and crimes against humanity.
But when the situation changed Prosecutors withdrew their request for an arrest warrant for Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh on August 2 following his death in Tehran on July 31, as well as their request for an arrest warrant for back for Yahya Sinwar who was the leader of Hamas who was also killed by the Israeli army in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu just fired Gallant as defense minister on November 5.
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2024-11-21 15:59:00
**What are the potential implications of the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders on the balance of power in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?**
## A World Divided: Unpacking the ICC Arrest Warrants
Welcome back to World Today News. Today, we delve into the recent seismic decision by the International Criminal Court, issuing arrest warrants for key figures in the Gaza conflict, including Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas military leader, Mohammed Deif. To help us navigate this complex issue, we’re joined by two distinguished guests:
**Professor Sarah Cohen:** An International Law expert at Columbia University, specializing in war crimes and international tribunals.
**Mr. Ahmed Khalil:** A Middle East political analyst and author focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Let’s begin!
**Section I: The ICC’s Decision: Justice or Political Maneuvering?**
* **Professor Cohen,** you’ve spent your career studying international law and the ICC. Can you shed light on the significance and the legal basis of these arrest warrants? What makes this situation so unprecedented? [[1](https://jingyan.baidu.com/article/2fb0ba4054f95941f3ec5f27.html)]
* **Mr. Khalil,** how are these warrants being received on the ground in the Middle East? Do you see them as a step towards accountability or a further escalation of tensions?
**Section II: The Allegations: War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity**
* **Professor Cohen,** the ICC cites crimes against humanity and war crimes related to the siege of Gaza, specifically the deprivation of essential resources like food and water. Can you explain what these charges entail and how the ICC intends to prove them?
* **Mr. Khalil,** what is the impact of these allegations on the civilian population in Gaza? How do these charges resonate with the lived experiences of those caught in the crossfire?
**Section III: International Implications: Power, Politics, and the ICC**
* **Professor Cohen,** some argue that the ICC is selectively targeting Israel, while others criticize its inability to hold powerful actors like Russia accountable. How do you respond to these criticisms? What role does political influence play in international justice?
* **Mr. Khalil,** how do you expect these arrest warrants to impact the already fragile peace process?
Will they foster dialog or further entrench division?
**Section IV: Looking Forward: What’s Next?**
* **Professor Cohen**, what are the potential outcomes of these warrants?
What are the possible legal ramifications for Netanyahu and Deif?
* **Mr. Khalil**, what are your hopes and concerns for the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in light of these developments?
We hope this conversation has planted the seed for deeper reflection on this multifaceted issue. Thank you for joining us.
