The International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating potential war crimes committed during the Israel-Hamas conflict, and Israeli officials are growing increasingly concerned about the possibility of arrest warrants being issued for senior Israeli leaders. According to multiple sources, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Herzi Halevi are among those who could be targeted.
The ICC has been investigating possible war crimes by both Israeli forces and Palestinian militants since the 2014 Israel-Hamas war. The organization's prosecutor's office is under pressure from NGOs and several ICC member states to issue arrest warrants, but U.S. officials have stated that they do not have a clear indication of whether this will happen.
Israel argues that it has a functioning court system and disputes over a nation's ability or willingness to prosecute have fueled past disputes between the court and individual countries. The ICC was set up more than a decade ago to tackle impunity for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and other grave crimes when states don't prosecute them.
Netanyahu has stated that under his leadership, Israel will never accept any attempt by the ICC to undermine its inherent right of self-defense. The potential arrest warrants could set a dangerous precedent for democracies fighting terrorism and aggression.
The ICC is an international organization based in The Hague, Netherlands. It was established under the Rome Statute, a 2002 treaty that has been ratified by 123 countries. The court relies on member states to arrest suspects and does not have its own police force.
The ICC has investigations in various regions around the world, including Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. It was initially criticized for focusing on crimes in Africa but has since expanded its reach.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi are among those who have faced ICC investigations and arrest warrants.
The Israeli government's concerns about the ICC come as tensions between Israel and Hamas continue to escalate, with both sides accusing each other of committing war crimes. The conflict began in early April 2024, following clashes at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem and continued with a series of rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel and Israeli airstrikes on targets in the Palestinian territory.
