After Vladimir Putin, also Bibi Netanyahu. The recent resolution by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants against the Israeli Prime Minister and the former Defense Minister Yoav Gallantas well as for some Hamas leaders, including the leader known as Deif, has sparked a wide range of reactions internationally. Such a legal move, which accuses them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the context of the Gaza conflict, placed Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas officials at the top of the world’s most wanted list.
“The Chamber found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals did so intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population of Gaza of goods essential to their survivalincluding food, water, medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity,” the three judges wrote in the ruling, specifying that Israel does not need to recognize the jurisdiction of the Court for the arrest warrant to be valid. Now the ball is in the hands of the other states. Since The Hague does not have its own police, everything depends on what the individual countries will do if Netanyahu were to appear on their territory. A “doubt” that also arose with the arrest warrant for Putin after the invasion of Ukraine.
The decision raised a firestorm of indignation within the ranks of the Israeli government. Key figures such as Itamar Ben GvirMinister of National Security known for his far-right positions, the president Isaac Herzog and the Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’arexpressed deep disappointment. Ben Gvir has leveled scathing criticism of the ICC, denouncing it as “deeply anti-Semitic” and proposing resolute action in response. Herzog spoke of a “black day” for international justice, accusing the Court of having turned its back on the crimes perpetrated by Hamas cagainst Israel and for manipulating the legal system in favor of terrorist and anti-Semitic agendas. Sa’ar highlighted a loss of credibility of the ICC, criticizing it for becoming a political tool against peace and security in the Middle East.
On the other side, Hamas welcomed the ICC decisionseeing it as progress towards justice for the violence suffered by civilians in Gaza, and called on the international community to support the initiative to bring accused Israeli leaders to justice.
The Dutch Foreign Minister, Caspar Veldkampstated that the Netherlands is ready to fulfill its commitment to execute the warrants, as part of the obligations of the 124 ICC member states. This announcement raises doubts and questions about Netanyahu and Gallant’s freedom of movement and highlights tensions between the responsibilities of ICC member states and international diplomatic relations.
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