The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant, according to a press release from the court.
The ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber unanimously dismissed objections from Israel, which argued against the court's jurisdiction over the situation in Palestine and its citizens, and Israel's right to conduct independent investigations before cases are referred to the ICC. The warrants were issued for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed between October 8, 2023, and May 20, 2024, on Palestinian territories, including the Gaza Strip.
According to the court, Netanyahu and Galant bear responsibility for crimes such as killings, persecution, inhumane acts, and deliberately using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare.
Typically, arrest warrants are kept confidential to protect witnesses and ensure effective investigations. However, the court opted to make these warrants public, citing ongoing violations and the need to inform victims and their families of the court's actions.
The ICC prosecutor launched an investigation into potential war crimes and crimes against humanity on Palestinian territories in 2021. These investigations have examined the actions of Israeli forces, Hamas, and other Palestinian armed groups. On May 20, 2024, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan formally requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Galant.
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Based on TASS materials