The International Criminal Court (ICC) has just issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over the war crimes which have been taking place in Gaza.

This landmark decision, stemming from the war in Gaza, marks a significant escalation in international legal proceedings. It means that the ICC’s 124 member states are now obligated to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they enter their territories.

The ICC’s announcement, made on Thursday, follows its unanimous rejection of Israel’s appeal over the court’s jurisdiction in the matter.

According to the court, there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant are criminally responsible for the war crime of using starvation as a method of warfare.

The court also accused them of “intentionally and knowingly” depriving Gaza’s civilians of essential resources, including food, water, medicine, medical supplies, fuel, and electricity, during the ongoing conflict.

Netanyahu has dismissed the ICC’s accusations as “absurd and false” and described the prosecutor’s application for arrest warrants as “a distortion of reality.”

Israel has since maintained that it is being unfairly targeted by the ICC and insists that it remains committed to upholding the rule of law.

The ICC has also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas leader Mohammed Deif on similar charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes. Israel previously claimed that Deif was killed in an airstrike on Gaza earlier this year.

Featured image: CNN

What do you make of this recent development?