THE HAGUE. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and senior Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the ongoing Gaza conflict. The ICC’s decision stems from allegations of widespread attacks on civilians in Gaza, including acts of murder, persecution, and the use of starvation as a weapon of war.
In their ruling, the ICC judges determined there were reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant were criminally responsible for these actions, as part of a “widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza.” The court also found sufficient grounds to believe that the blockade of Gaza, which led to the lack of food, water, electricity, fuel, and medical supplies, “created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population.” This blockade, the court argued, resulted in the deaths of civilians, including children, from malnutrition and dehydration.
Israel reacted angrily to the court’s decision, labeling it “shameful and absurd.” The government strongly rejected the ICC’s jurisdiction and denied the allegations of war crimes. In Gaza, residents expressed hope that the arrest warrants could lead to an end to the violence and bring those responsible for the ongoing atrocities to justice. Hamas also welcomed the warrants against Israeli officials, with a senior Hamas official stating that the arrest orders were a “first step towards justice.”
The arrest warrant against Al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, includes charges of mass killings during the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, which triggered the current Gaza war. Al-Masri is also accused of rape and taking hostages. While Israel claimed it killed Al-Masri in a July airstrike, Hamas has not confirmed or denied his death. The ICC prosecution indicated it would continue to investigate his reported death and any additional information regarding his actions.
Israel has repeatedly rejected the authority of the Hague-based court and denies accusations of war crimes in Gaza. The United States, Israel’s primary diplomatic ally and a non-member of the ICC, criticized the decision, with a White House National Security Council spokesperson saying the U.S. “fundamentally rejects” the move. The spokesperson also expressed concerns over the ICC prosecutor’s “rush to seek arrest warrants” and the “process errors” that led to this decision.
The ICC, which is backed by member states including the European Union, Australia, Canada, and Britain, relies on the cooperation of its 124 signatory countries for the execution of arrest warrants. However, several global powers, including Russia, China, and India, have not signed onto the ICC, casting further doubt on the enforcement of the arrest warrants.
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, who first announced in May 2023 that he was seeking arrest warrants for individuals involved in both the Hamas-led attacks and the Israeli military response, called on ICC signatories to uphold their commitment to international justice. “We count on their cooperation in this situation, as with all other situations… We also welcome collaboration with non-states parties in working towards accountability and upholding international law,” Khan said in a statement.
Despite the lack of enforcement mechanisms, the ICC’s ruling represents a significant step in the global effort to hold leaders accountable for alleged war crimes in the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
