The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas’s military chief Mohammed Deif. These warrants are related to allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed between October 8, 2023, and May 20, 2024. The ICC’s move requires its 124 member countries to potentially arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they enter their territories.
The warrants, which were initially kept secret to protect witnesses and safeguard the investigation, were released as the ICC determined that similar actions to those addressed in the warrants may still be ongoing. The court also stated that releasing the information serves the interests of victims and their families.
ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan had earlier requested these arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, and other top Hamas leaders due to alleged war crimes during the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Although Israel claimed that Deif was killed in an airstrike in July 2023, Hamas has denied his death.
Since the deadly attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which killed over 1,200 Israelis, the conflict in Gaza has escalated. According to the Gaza health ministry, over 44,000 people have died in the ongoing war, with over 104,000 others injured.
