Israel and Hamas Reject ICC Arrest Warrant Request for War Crimes
Israel and Hamas have vehemently rejected the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) prosecutor’s request for arrest warrants for their leaders for alleged war crimes committed during the recent conflict in the Gaza Strip.
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan has accused both Israeli and Hamas leaders of committing crimes against humanity, including ‘wilful killing’, ‘extermination and/or murder’, and ‘starvation’ during the war.
Israel’s government has condemned the request as a ‘historical disgrace’, while Hamas has ‘strongly condemned’ it. The US, Israel’s key ally, and France have expressed support for the court’s independence but criticized the specific request for arrest warrants.
The ICC does not have the authority to enforce its warrants, and any arrests would depend on the cooperation of ICC member states. However, the request has raised concerns about the potential implications for future attempts to hold world leaders accountable for war crimes.
Israeli Rejection and US Support
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the ICC’s request with ‘disgust’, accusing the prosecutor of comparing ‘democratic Israel’ to the ‘mass murderers of Hamas’.
The US has denounced the ICC’s bid as ‘outrageous’ and said there is ‘no equivalence’ between Israel and Hamas. President Joe Biden has also rejected accusations by South Africa at the UN International Court of Justice that Israel’s war in Gaza is genocidal.
Hamas’s Condemnation and Global Response
Hamas has condemned the ICC’s request, calling it a ‘political tool’ used against the Palestinian people. South Africa, however, has welcomed the move at the ICC.
The war in Gaza has caused widespread destruction and loss of life. According to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry, at least 35,562 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes, mostly civilians. Israel has imposed a siege on the Gaza Strip, depriving its 2.4 million people of normal access to clean water, food, medicines and fuel.
The EU has warned that 31 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are no longer functioning and that the rest are ‘on the verge of collapse’. Air strikes continue across Gaza, and the situation remains dire for civilians caught in the conflict.
