Israel-Gaza stay: ICC seeks arrest warrant in opposition to Netanyahu for alleged struggle crimes | EUROtoday

Israeli struggle cupboard minister Benny Gantz on Monday denounced the in search of of arrest warrants in opposition to the nation’s prime minister and defence minister by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court as “a crime of historic proportion”.

“Drawing parallels between the leaders of a democratic country determined to defend itself from despicable terror to leaders of a blood-thirsty terror organisation (Hamas) is a deep distortion of justice and blatant moral bankruptcy,” Mr Gantz stated.

Israeli opposition chief Yair Lapid condemned as a “disaster” the announcement by the International Criminal Court prosecutor that arrest warrants had been requested in opposition to Israel’s prime minister and defence minister.

Addressing his parliamentary faction, Lapid voiced hope that the U.S. Congress would convene and condemn the ICC measure.

In his assertion, the ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, says:

“On the basis of evidence collected and examined by my Office, I have reasonable grounds to believe that Yahya SINWAR (Head of the Islamic Resistance Movement (“Hamas”) within the Gaza Strip), Mohammed Diab Ibrahim AL-MASRI, extra generally generally known as DEIF (Commander-in-Chief of the navy wing of Hamas, generally known as the Al-Qassam Brigades), and Ismail HANIYEH (Head of Hamas Political Bureau) bear felony duty for the next struggle crimes and crimes in opposition to humanity dedicated on the territory of Israel and the State of Palestine (within the Gaza strip) from at the least 7 October 2023:

– Extermination as a criminal offense in opposition to humanity, opposite to article 7(1)(b) of the Rome Statute;

– Murder as a criminal offense in opposition to humanity, opposite to article 7(1)(a), and as a struggle crime, opposite to article 8(2)(c)(i);

– Taking hostages as a struggle crime, opposite to article 8(2)(c)(iii);

– Rape and different acts of sexual violence as crimes in opposition to humanity, opposite to article 7(1)(g), and in addition as struggle crimes pursuant to article 8(2)(e)(vi) within the context of captivity;

– Torture as a criminal offense in opposition to humanity, opposite to article 7(1)(f), and in addition as a struggle crime, opposite to article 8(2)(c)(i), within the context of captivity;

– Other inhumane acts as a criminal offense in opposition to humanity, opposite to article 7(l)(ok), within the context of captivity;

– Cruel remedy as a struggle crime opposite to article 8(2)(c)(i), within the context of captivity; and

– Outrages upon private dignity as a struggle crime, opposite to article 8(2)(c)(ii), within the context of captivity.”

“On the basis of evidence collected and examined by my Office, I have reasonable grounds to believe that Benjamin NETANYAHU, the Prime Minister of Israel, and Yoav GALLANT, the Minister of Defence of Israel, bear criminal responsibility for the following war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the State of Palestine (in the Gaza strip) from at least 8 October 2023:

– Starvation of civilians as a method of warfare as a war crime contrary to article 8(2)(b)(xxv) of the Statute;

– Wilfully causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or health contrary to article 8(2)(a)(iii), or cruel treatment as a war crime contrary to article 8(2)(c)(i);

– Wilful killing contrary to article 8(2)(a)(i), or Murder as a war crime contrary to article 8(2)(c)(i);

– Intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population as a war crime contrary to articles 8(2)(b)(i), or 8(2)(e)(i);

– Extermination and/or murder contrary to articles 7(1)(b) and 7(1)(a), including in the context of deaths caused by starvation, as a crime against humanity;

– Persecution as a crime against humanity contrary to article 7(1)(h);

– Other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity contrary to article 7(1)(k).”

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has stated that he’s in search of arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, together with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in reference to their actions in the course of the seven-month struggle.

Karim Khan stated that he believes Mr Netanyahu; his defence minister, Yoav Gallant; and three Hamas leaders: Yehya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh; are liable for struggle crimes and crimes in opposition to humanity within the Gaza Strip and Israel.

Speaking of the Israeli actions, Mr Khan stated in a press release that “the effects of the use of starvation as a method of warfare, together with other attacks and collective punishment against the civilian population of Gaza are acute, visible and widely known.”

He added: “They include malnutrition, dehydration, profound suffering and an increasing number of deaths among the Palestinian population, including babies, other children, and women.”

Of the Hamas actions on October 7, he stated that he noticed for himself “the devastating scenes of these attacks and the profound impact of the unconscionable crimes charged in the applications filed today.

“Speaking with survivors, I heard how the love inside a household, the deepest bonds between a guardian and a baby, had been contorted to inflict unfathomable ache by way of calculated cruelty and excessive callousness. These acts demand accountability.”