ICC issues arrest warrant against Netanyahu, Gallant; Israeli PM rebukes, West divided over mandate
PTC News Desk: The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrant against Israeli PM Netanyahu, former defence minister Yoav Gallant and military commander of Hamas.
A statement said a pre-trial chamber had rejected Israel’s challenges to the court’s jurisdiction and issued warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant. A warrant was also issued for Mohammed Deif of Hamas, although Israel has said he was killed in an air strike in Gaza in July.
According to the judges, the warrant has been issued for alleged war crimes these three men bore responsibility for and that there were reasonable grounds for the mandate.
In a rebuke to global body, Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the ICC’s decision as “antisemitic”, while Hamas said the warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant had set an "important historical precedent".
The ICC has the authority to prosecute those accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes on the territory of states party to the Rome Statute, its founding treaty.
The warrant against Netanyahu has left Western countries divided. While the United States has also criticised the ICC's decision, Britain, Canada, the Netherlands and Italy have said that Netanyahu will be arrested as soon as he lands in their countries.
- PTC NEWS
