International Criminal Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a former defence minister, and several Hamas officials, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the Gaza war and October 2023 attacks. The warrants, announced on Thursday, November 21st, make Netanyahu and the others internationally wanted suspects.

However, the practical impact of the decision may be limited, as neither Israel nor its key ally, the United States, are ICC members. Furthermore, several Hamas leaders named in the warrants, including Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Al-Sinwar, have already been killed during the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, have strongly criticised the ICC and its Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, labelling the move as antisemitic and politically motivated. U.S. President Joe Biden has also condemned the ICC’s actions, reiterating America’s support for Israel’s right to self-defence. Hamas, in turn, has rejected the ICC’s decision, dismissing it as baseless.