Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have issued arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister and former defence minister, as well as Hamas’s military commander.
A statement said a pre-trial chamber had rejected Israel’s challenges to the court’s jurisdiction and issued warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant.
A warrant was also issued for Mohammed Deif, although the Israeli military has said he was killed in an air strike in Gaza in July.
The judges said there were “reasonable grounds” the three men bore “criminal responsibility” for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the war between Israel and Hamas. Both Israel and Hamas have rejected the allegations.
It will now be up to the ICC’s 124 member states - who do not include Israel or its ally, the United States - to decide whether or not to enforce the warrants.
In May, the ICC prosecutor Karim Khan sought warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, Deif and two other Hamas leaders who have since been killed, Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar. Although Israel believes Deif has also been killed, the chamber said it was not able to confirm his death.
I’m actually surprised. I didn’t think they would actually do it. It’s unlikely to lead anywhere, but this is still a big step.
It will stop Benny from going on his little vacations to the US and Europe to prop up the local far-right.
America is not part of the ICC, they have no legal obligation to comply. Nor would they. Betraying or abandoning one of their assets would not be a good look.
If they don’t comply that is going to play into Putin’s hands and piss off Europe. Trump might do it, but it will probably kill all the international influence the US has in the process.
Pretty sure the ICC warrant for Putin was already ignored by various countries.
If they don’t comply that is going to play into Putin’s hands and piss off Europe.
How so?
I personally doubt Trump will comply either. Israel has deep pockets and Trump loves money. But guessing what Trump would do is a very difficult thing to do to be fair. I could be wrong on this.
they won’t comply
Would have to get a direct flight though!
Layovers? For the PM of Israel? What is he? Lower-middle class?
What happens if the plane has an issue?
A flight from Israel to the US is mainly over the Atlantic. Not sure if diverting it to a nearby country is an option.
How will it stop him from coming to the US
It will now be up to the ICC’s 124 member states - which do not include Israel or its ally, the United States - to decide whether or not to enforce the warrants.
I wouldn’t count on it.
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Maybe this should not be a binary question, but: will this make Israeli public more nationalistic OR find a unifying reason to permanently remove Netanyahu from power? Guessing the former, but one can hope.
