The International Criminal Court (ICC) has announced arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and key Hamas military leaders.
In an official statement, the ICC disclosed that its pre-trial chamber had rejected Israel’s legal challenge to the court’s jurisdiction, paving the way for warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant.
A separate warrant was issued for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, who, according to Israeli military reports, was killed during an airstrike in Gaza last July.
The ICC’s judges concluded that there is a “reasonable basis” to believe the three individuals bear “criminal responsibility” for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog criticized the decision, calling it “outrageous” and accusing the ICC of acting in bad faith. He remarked that the ruling “has transformed universal justice into a global laughing stock,” further claiming it aligns with “terror and crime” rather than “democracy and freedom.” Herzog also accused the court of providing a shield for what he described as Hamas’ crimes against humanity.
Prime Minister Netanyahu also denounced the ICC’s ruling, branding it as “anti-Semitic.” He asserted that both he and Gallant were wrongly accused of intentionally targeting civilians, emphasizing efforts to minimize harm to civilian populations during the military campaign.
Hamas, on the other hand, remained silent on the arrest warrant issued for Mohammed Deif. However, the organization openly welcomed the charges against Netanyahu and Gallant, describing them as a “significant historical precedent” that begins to address the “longstanding historical injustice” endured by their people.