The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, revealed Monday that the court was pursuing arrest warrants for top leaders from both Hamas and Israel. The statement, made initially on CNN, was later confirmed in an official statement. This unprecedented move against Israel's top officials stems from false allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the October 7 attacks on Israel and the ensuing conflict in Gaza.
The applications – set to be heard before a panel of judges who will have to decide on whether arrest warrants are issued – are against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, as well as two other prominent Hamas figures – Mohammed Deif, leader of the Al-Qassem Brigades, and Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas. This decision marks the first time the ICC has targeted a national leader of a close US ally, placing Netanyahu in a similar position to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who faces an ICC arrest warrant over the Ukraine war. The ICC judges will now review Khan's applications for these arrest warrants.
World exclusive: The International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the October 7 attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in…
— Christiane Amanpour (@amanpour) May 20, 2024
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 would be filed as soon as Monday. This was also the case with Gallant, he said.
According to Khan, the charges against the Hamas leaders include "extermination, murder, taking of hostages, rape and sexual assault in detention." He stated, "The world was shocked on October 7 when people were ripped from their bedrooms, from their homes, from the different kibbutzim in Israel...people have suffered enormously."
BREAKING: In an exclusive interview with Christiane @amanpour, International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan has announced the Court is seeking arrest warrants for Hamas leader Sinwar and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. pic.twitter.com/B5MrsYcZXr
— CNN International PR (@cnnipr) May 20, 2024
Regarding Netanyahu and Gallant, Khan cited charges of "causing extermination, causing starvation as a method of war, including the denial of humanitarian relief supplies, deliberately targeting civilians in conflict." When asked about Netanyahu's previous comments condemning any potential ICC action as "an outrage," Khan responded firmly, "Nobody is above the law."
While Israel and the US are not ICC members, the court claims jurisdiction over Gaza, east Jerusalem, and the West Bank after Palestinian leaders agreed to be bound by its principles in 2015. Khan advised Israel that if they disagree with the ICC's jurisdiction, "they are free, notwithstanding their objections...to raise a challenge before the judges of the court."
