The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and also against Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif. These charges have arisen for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity aligned with the conflict in Gaza.
Charges Against Israeli Leaders
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan asked for warrants related to crimes connected to the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel and Tel Aviv's military reaction in Gaza. There are "reasonable grounds" that Netanyahu and Gallant are responsible for actions that deprived the civilian population of Gaza of essentials like food, water, fuel, and medical supplies, a three-judge panel agreed unanimously. The warrant against Deif is based on the charges of mass killings, rape, and hostage-taking during the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. Israel claims to have killed Deif in an airstrike they conducted in July but Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied this, and the ICC is gathering further information on it.
Israel Denies ICC's Jurisdiction
Israel is not a member of the ICC and has already dismissed the court's jurisdiction and rejected accusations of war crimes. Israeli politicians described the decision as "anti-Semitic." Human rights groups have pointed out this lack of accountability to say that Israel should investigate itself.
Humanitarian Casualty Rate of the Gaza Conflict. So far, at least 44,056 lives have been lost since the October 7, 2023. According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, more than 104,000 have been hurt and civilians are being significantly affected by the blockade and airstrikes by Israel. The war began when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on southern Israel, killing about 1,200 civilians. Israel's retaliatory military campaign has undergone heavy international criticism, especially regarding the scale of civilian casualties and destruction in it.
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