AMSTERDAM: The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
This action follows ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan’s announcement on May 20, seeking warrants related to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent Israeli military response in Gaza.
The ICC clarified that Israel’s acceptance of its jurisdiction was not required for the proceedings. However, Israel has rejected the ICC’s jurisdiction and denied allegations of war crimes in Gaza.
Read More: Netanyahu dismisses Defence Minister Gallant
Israel claims it killed Al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, in an airstrike, though Hamas has not confirmed this.
Netanyahu previously dismissed Gallant as defense minister over a loss of trust during the Gaza conflict. The two had clashed over Israel’s military response to Hamas’s October 7 attack. In his place, Netanyahu appointed Foreign Minister Israel Katz as defense minister, citing Katz’s proven track record in national security.
