The International Criminal Court has been seeking an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since November 21. Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials have been openly under investigation by the Hague for war crimes in Gaza, the West Bank, and now Lebanon. Under the Netanyahu administration, Israeli Defense Forces have overseen alleged crimes against humanity.
Israel has halted UN aid into the Gaza Strip by UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees), leading to reported horrific conditions in Gaza that have been viewed internationally as inhumane and a violation of human rights by Human Rights Watch. Earlier this year, the International Court of Justice ruled Israeli actions within Israel as genocidal and a clear violation of human rights as established by international law and advised Israel to take reasonable actions to protect Palestinian Civilians.
Inside the Gaza Strip, reported conditions picture a modern health crisis, with only 12 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza still confirmed operational by NPR, with 84% of all health facilities deemed inoperable within Gaza. A polio outbreak, mass starvation, consistent bombing campaigns, and mass homelessness have rattled the Gaza Strip as IDF forces continue their advance with the stated goal of “complete victory,” which paints a bleak picture for any hope of compromise or Palestinian statehood.
In a recent White House press conference, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated, “The United States fundamentally rejects the Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials. We remain deeply concerned by the Prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision.” It is worth noting that there is no sufficient evidence that points towards a “rush” on the ICC’s part to file arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, with the government not providing a briefing nor proof that there was an intentional rushing of the warrants. The United States remains a non-member state in the ICC, giving it no obligation to arrest top Israeli officials or the PM.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that Canada would “abide” by the ICC ruling, showcasing a counterweight to the American rejection of the verdict in the Western world. Additionally, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Jordan have joined in vocally, stating that the Israeli Prime Minister nor the Israeli top officials will be with open arms and will be arrested pending the arrival of the Israeli PM into their respective nations. The acceptance of the ruling by these nations further points towards a credence to the ICC’s arrest warrant.
It is worth noting that ICC member nations are obligated to follow ICC arrest warrants; however, this obligation is only enforceable when their failure to comply is punished by expulsion from the ICC. Maintaining ICC membership is favorable as “the ICC’s work can help prevent future crimes from happening by putting potential perpetrators on notice that anyone may be held responsible if they commit core international crimes.”
Other individuals mentioned by name are Yoav Gallant, former Israeli Defense Chief, and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri (presumed dead).
This situation is developing; details are subject to change and edits by the author or editorial staff.
