ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrants for Israeli, Hamas leaders

The International Criminal Court prosecutor's office said on Monday it had requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his defense chief and three Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes.

Prosecutor Karim Khan's office said it suspected all five - Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Al-Masri and Ismail Haniyeh - bore criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Israel or the Gaza Strip.

In a video release, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan accused the Hamas leaders of criminal responsibility for extermination, murder, the taking of hostages, rape and other acts of sexual violence during captivity, torture during captivity, other inhumane acts during captivity, cruel treatment during captivity and outrages upon personal dignity during captivity.

Khan also accused Netanyahu and Gallant of criminal responsibility for "starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, wilfully causing great suffering, serious injury to body or health, or cruel treatment, wilful killing or murder and intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population; as well as crimes against humanity of extermination and/or murder, persecution and allegation of crimes committing other inhumane acts."

Israel has denied committing war crimes in the Gaza conflict, triggered by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7.

It will be up to the court's pre-trial judges to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to issue warrants.

Reaction to the decision

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir urged Netanyahu to ignore the ICC and its prosecutor, deeming both antisemitic, and said the Gaza war should be ramped up until Hamas' defeat. 

Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz said "Drawing parallels between the leaders of a democratic country determined to defend itself from despicable terror to leaders of a blood-thirsty terror organization is a deep distortion of justice and blatant moral bankruptcy."

Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich called it a "show of hypocrisy and Jew-hatred," insisting "arrest warrants against them are arrest warrants against us all."

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said the decision "equates the victim with the executioner" and encourages Israel to continue its "war of extermination" in Gaza.

Palestine Liberation Organization official Wasel Abu Youssef said "The Palestinian people have the right to defend themselves... The ICC is required to issue arrest warrants against Israeli officials who are pursuing crimes of genocide in the Gaza Strip."

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