Israel asked the International Criminal Court on Wednesday to suspend the warrants for Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant as it will appeal against arrest warrants for the Prime Minister and his former defence minister.
Last week, the ICC issued the warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant on suspicion of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza, triggered by the Palestinian militant group’s October 7, 2023 attack.
“The State of Israel challenges the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the legitimacy of the arrest warrants issued,” Netanyahu’s office said, according to news agency AFP.
“If the court rejects this request, it will further demonstrate to Israel’s friends in the United States and around the world how biased the International Criminal Court is against the State of Israel,” it added.
What are the charges?
The ICC ruling outlines several key allegations against Netanyahu and Gallant, alleging there are reasonable grounds to believe they bear criminal responsibility for the following:
War crime of starvation: Both leaders are accused of intentionally depriving the civilian population in Gaza of essential supplies, including food, water, medicine, fuel, and electricity, from at least 8 October 2023. These actions allegedly led to widespread malnutrition and dehydration, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and leading to civilian deaths.
Crimes against humanity: The court accuses Netanyahu and Gallant of committing crimes against humanity, including:
– Murder: The deprivation of vital resources allegedly resulted in deaths, particularly among children, due to malnutrition and dehydration.
– Persecution: The restriction of humanitarian aid is seen as a politically motivated attack on Gaza’s civilian population, leading to systematic suffering.
– Other inhumane acts: The lack of medical supplies, including anaesthetics, forced doctors to operate on patients, including children, without proper anaesthesia, resulting in extreme pain and suffering.
