The Hague: Arrest warrants utilized for in opposition to Netanyahu and Hamas leaders | EUROtoday

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has requested arrest warrants in opposition to Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and in opposition to the chief of the terrorist group Hamas within the Gaza Strip, Jihia al-Sinwar. This was introduced by the Court in The Hague.

Chief prosecutor Karim Khan has been investigating alleged crimes in opposition to humanity within the Gaza battle for months. According to Khan, the ICC judges will challenge additional arrest warrants in opposition to Israel's Defense Minister Joav Galant in addition to Sinwar's deputy Mohammed Deif and Hamas overseas chief Ismail Hanija. Both sides reacted angrily to Khan's requests. There was additionally robust criticism from the USA.

The prosecutor accuses the Hamas leaders of crimes in opposition to humanity, together with “extermination” in addition to homicide, hostage-taking, rape and torture. He referred to as on the terrorist group to instantly launch all Israeli hostages and guarantee their “safe return to their families.”

Chief prosecutor refers to worldwide humanitarian legislation

Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Galant are accused by Khan, amongst different issues, of being accountable for ravenous civilians as a way of warfare in addition to indiscriminate killings and focused assaults on civilians. Khan emphasised Israel's proper to defend its folks in opposition to all assaults. However, he additionally said that this proper doesn’t launch Israel from its obligation to adjust to worldwide humanitarian legislation.

The Gaza battle was triggered by the unprecedented bloodbath with greater than 1,200 deaths that terrorists from Hamas and different teams carried out in Israel on October seventh. According to the well being authority, 35,456 Palestinians have been killed within the ensuing battle up to now, though the quantity, which might hardly be verified independently, doesn’t distinguish between civilians and fighters.

The judges of the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC should now resolve whether or not the requested arrest warrants might be issued. If they contemplate the allegations to be confirmed, the primary proceedings could be initiated in opposition to the accused.

Criticism adopted instantly – from either side

Israel sharply criticized the functions in opposition to Netanyahu and Galant. Foreign Minister Israel Katz spoke of a “scandalous decision.” This represents “a frontal, unrestrained attack on the victims of October 7th and our 128 hostages in Gaza.” “While Hamas' murderers and rapists are committing crimes against humanity against our brothers and sisters, the chief prosecutor mentions ours in the same breath Prime Minister and Defense Minister, alongside the despicable Nazi monsters of Hamas – a historic disgrace that will be remembered forever,” Katz stated, in accordance with his workplace.

“This is a complete distortion of reality,” stated Netanyahu in a video message printed on the X platform that night. The “absurd” and false request will not be solely directed in opposition to him and Galant, “it is directed against the entire state of Israel.” The movement is an instance of a “new anti-Semitism” that has moved from college campuses to The Hague, Netanyahu stated, alluding to the pro-Palestinian protests at universities.

Israeli President Itzchak Herzog additionally rejected the request for an arrest warrant in opposition to Netanyahu and Galant as “more than outrageous.” Israeli opposition chief Jair Lapid spoke on Monday of a “complete moral failure.”

The members of the Knesset additionally reacted with uncommon unity. The state of Israel is in a simply battle in opposition to a felony terrorist group, stated the assertion adopted on Monday night by 106 of the 120 MPs. The comparability of Israeli authorities politicians with Hamas terrorists is scandalous and a transparent expression of anti-Semitism, in accordance with Knesset members. “We reject this with disgust. 80 years after the Holocaust, no one will stop the Jewish state from defending itself.”

Hamas requires prosecution of Israeli commanders

Hamas, for its half, criticized the chief prosecutor's requests for arrest warrants in opposition to its leaders. “His decision compares the victim to an executioner and encourages the (Israeli) occupation to continue the genocidal war,” stated a press release carried by the Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV channel. In one other assertion printed on Monday night, Hamas additionally referred to as for all Israeli commanders to be prosecuted.

Foreign Office: “inaccurate impression of an equation”

According to the Federal Foreign Office, the parallel actions of the ICC chief prosecutor in opposition to Hamas and Israel have created a false image. “The simultaneous application for arrest warrants against the Hamas leaders on the one hand and the two Israeli officials on the other gave the false impression of an equation,” stated a spokesman in Berlin. “However, the court will now have to assess very different facts, which the chief prosecutor has presented in detail in his application.”

There was additionally robust criticism of the actions of the ICC chief prosecutor from the USA. Israel and the Islamist Hamas shouldn’t be handled equally, stated US President Joe Biden. Biden continued that Israel will all the time stand by Israel within the occasion of threats to the nation's safety. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made related feedback. The proven fact that arrest warrants for high-ranking Israeli officers have been requested together with arrest warrants for Hamas terrorists was “shameful.”

Austria's Prime Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) had beforehand complained on Platform Austria is without doubt one of the international locations that significantly emphasizes Israel's proper to self-defense within the Gaza battle.

South Africa welcomes motion by chief prosecutor

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, alternatively, welcomed the actions of the chief prosecutor on the felony courtroom. South Africa, for its half, had repeatedly referred to as on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to take measures in opposition to Israel and accused the nation of genocide.

Arrest warrants would limit freedom of motion

Sinwar and Deif are believed to have been hiding in Hamas' underground tunnel system within the Gaza Strip for the reason that begin of the Gaza battle greater than seven months in the past. Hanija, alternatively, has reportedly been residing an opulent life in Qatar with a part of his household for years.

The courtroom has no capability to execute arrest warrants itself. However, this considerably restricts the liberty of motion of these being sought. In the case of arrest warrants, all contracting states of the courtroom are obliged to arrest the accused and switch them to The Hague as quickly as they’re of their nation. 139 states worldwide have signed the Rome Statute – the treaty foundation of the ICC – and 124 of them have ratified it, together with Germany. Along with the USA, Russia and China, Israel is without doubt one of the states that doesn’t acknowledge the courtroom. But the Palestinian territories are a contracting state. Therefore, the ICC prosecutor can be allowed to analyze.

dpa