The International Criminal Court (ICC) may, as early as this week, issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and senior military officials — a move that has the Jewish nations greatly concerned, according to an Israeli official.
“Israel is working through diplomatic channels, to try to make sure that those warrants are not issued,” Raf Sanchez reported for NBC News. “It is not clear at this point whether the court also intends to issue warrants for the arrest of senior Hamas leaders, which is a possibility.”
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“When asked about media reports of the arrest warrants, the ICC told NBC News that it ‘has an ongoing independent investigation in relation to the Situation in the State of Palestine’ and that ‘we have no further comment to make at this stage,'” the outlet reports.
Warrants wouldn’t put Netanyahu in jail.
“Neither Israel nor the United States recognize the court’s jurisdiction, though any warrants would put Israeli officials at risk of arrest in other countries, including much of Europe,” according to NBC News.
On X, Netanyahu blasted the ICC.
“Under my leadership, Israel will never accept any attempt by the ICC to undermine its inherent right of self-defense,” the prime minister stated.
“The threat to seize the soldiers and officials of the Middle East’s only democracy and the world’s only Jewish state is outrageous. We will not bow to it,” he vowed. “Israel will continue to wage to victory our just war against genocidal terrorists and we will never stop defending ourselves.”
“While the ICC will not affect Israel’s actions,” Netanyahu said, “it would set a dangerous precedent that threatens the soldiers and officials of all democracies fighting savage terrorism and wanton aggression.”
Under my leadership, Israel will never accept any attempt by the ICC to undermine its inherent right of self-defense.
The threat to seize the soldiers and officials of the Middle East’s only democracy and the world’s only Jewish state is outrageous. We will not bow to it.
Israel…— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) April 26, 2024
Nevertheless, the warrants would “serve as a high-profile statement on Israel’s actions in Gaza, and an embarrassing development that would put Netanyahu alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin as a major leader to face such action from the ICC,” according to NBC News.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called the situation “absurd.”
“Murderers like [Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei], [Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan] Nasrallah, and [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar are hoping for the International Criminal Court in The Hague to judge Israel,” he wrote on X. “This is absurd.”
Murderers like @khamenei_ir, Nasrallah, and Sinwar are hoping for the International Criminal Court in The Hague to judge Israel. This is absurd.
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) April 28, 2024
Katz “said late Sunday that it had informed Israeli missions of ‘rumors’ that warrants might be issued against senior Israeli officials,” according to NBC News. “Such a move, Foreign Minister Israel Katz said, would ‘provide a morale boost’ to Hamas and other militant groups.”
“The ICC — based in The Hague, the Netherlands — can charge individuals with war crimes and other related charges,” NBC News explains. “It is separate from the International Court of Justice, which considers cases between states and is currently investigating whether Israel has committed acts of genocide in Gaza.
“Israel and the U.S. have dismissed the accusation.”
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Melissa Fine is the former executive editor of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Poker
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1 fan. Melissa currently lives with her dog and two cats in a tiny town in the Sierra
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