On November 21, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The warrants cite “crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least October 8, 2023, to at least May 20, 2024.”
According to the document, “the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber unanimously rejected Israel’s objections filed under the Rome Statute.”
The arrest warrants are classified as “confidential” to protect witnesses and ensure the integrity of investigations, the ICC’s official notification states. However, the decision to publicly announce the warrants was made for two reasons: the ongoing nature of the events and the need to inform the victims’ families about the existence of the warrants.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid responded to the decision:
I condemn the Hague court’s ruling. Israel is defending its citizens against terrorist organizations that attacked, murdered, and raped our people. These arrest warrants are a reward for terrorism.
