In a dramatic and unprecedented move, the prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, has requested arrest warrants for key figures on both sides of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The announcement came on May 20 and named Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and several leaders of Hamas, including Yahya Sinwar, Muhammad Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh, on charges of war crimes.
The decision has sent shockwaves through Israel, where the thought of their leaders standing trial alongside Hamas officials is almost unimaginable. This development comes amidst growing international condemnation of the ongoing war on Gaza, in which Israel has inflicted significant humanitarian and civilian casualties.
Khan, a British lawyer, laid out detailed allegations against both Israeli and Hamas leaders. He accused the Hamas leaders of orchestrating heinous acts during their October 7 attack on Israel, which included murder, sexual assault, and kidnapping. Simultaneously, the charges against Netanyahu and Gallant are equally severe, focusing on the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza following the Hamas attack. Among the allegations are claims of using starvation as a method of warfare.
The UN highlighted the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with food aid distribution in Rafah ceasing due to supply shortages and insecurity. This crisis has been exacerbated by Israel’s military operations aimed at “eradicating Hamas,” leading to mass displacement and suffering among Palestinian civilians with children being among the greatest victims.
A US official confirmed that Israel has responded to President Joe Biden’s concerns about a full-scale ground invasion of Rafah, though Washington has not fully endorsed such an assault. The US and Israel are also grappling with the implications of the ICC’s actions.
Hamas’ attack on October 7, which is alleged to have resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israeli soldiers, illegal settlers, and civilians and the capture of 250 prisoners of war, has been condemned globally. In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 35,000 Palestinian civilians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, and forcefully displaced most of the population.
Khan’s office has compiled substantial evidence, including victim testimonies, video footage, and expert analysis, to support the charges against both sides. The investigation revealed that Hamas leaders personally acknowledged their roles in the October 7 crimes, while evidence against Israeli officials includes premeditated actions that caused starvation and the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure and populations.
The ICC’s jurisdiction covers crimes committed in both Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, and the decision to seek arrest warrants follows “a comprehensive and impartial investigation.” The request emphasizes that “no individual, regardless of rank or position, is above the law when it comes to war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
, Karim Khan, has requested arrest warrants for key figures on both sides of the Israel-Hamas conflict.){kind=link}