ALBAWABA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have both been the subject of arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
"The Chamber issued warrants of arrest 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 Hague-based court said in a statement.
The court believes that there are sufficient grounds to assume that Gallant and Netanyahu purposefully and willfully denied the civilian population in Gaza essential survival items such as food, water, medicine and medical supplies, fuel, and electricity.
The court also rejected two Israeli challenges to its jurisdiction, saying "the acceptance by Israel of the Court’s jurisdiction is not required, as the Court can exercise its jurisdiction on the basis of territorial jurisdiction of Palestine", Al Jazeera reported.
In a following announcement, the International Criminal Court stated that Deif, also known as Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, is wanted internationally.
The court stated that it "unanimously" agreed to issue the warrant against him "for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes committed on the territory of the State of Israel and the State of Palestine beginning at least October 7, 2023".
