ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas leader

Photo: Abir Sultan Pool Associated Press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant during a press conference on October 28, 2023, in Tel Aviv.

Agence France-Presse in The Hague

Posted at 7:38 AM Updated at 8:07 AM

• Middle East

The International Criminal Court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas's military wing leader Mohammed Deif for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

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“The Chamber has issued arrest warrants for two individuals, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr. Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024, the day the prosecution filed the applications for the arrest warrants,” the ICC, which sits in The Hague, said in a statement, adding in a separate statement that a warrant had also been issued for Mohammed Deif.

The arrest warrants have been classified as “secret,” in order to protect witnesses and ensure the conduct of investigations, the court said.

But “the Chamber considers that it is in the interests of the victims and their families that they be informed of the existence of the warrants,” it said. explained.

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan asked the court in May to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant (who was fired by the Israeli prime minister in early November) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Mr Khan has also requested arrest warrants for senior Hamas leaders, including Mohammed Deif, suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

According to Israel, Deif was killed in a strike on July 13 in southern Gaza, although Hamas denies his death.

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The Hamas government’s health ministry in Gaza announced on Thursday a new death toll of 44,056 in the Palestinian territory since the start of the war with Israel more than a year ago.

At least 71 people were killed in the past 24 hours, it said in a statement, adding that 104,268 people had been injured in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war, which was triggered by an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

More details to follow.