The International Criminal Court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister as well as Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif. The unprecedented move drew a furious reaction from Netanyahu, who denounced it as anti-Semitic and the court's accusations "absurd and false". Israel's closest allies, including the United States, also slammed the warrants against the Israeli politicians, but rights groups including Amnesty International welcomed them.
"Prime Minister Netanyahu is now officially a wanted man," said Amnesty Secretary General Agnes Callamard. The ICC's move theoretically limits the movement of Netanyahu, as any of the court's 124 national members would be obliged to arrest him on their territory. "The Chamber issued warrants of arrest for two individuals, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024," the ICC said in a statement.
A warrant had also been issued for Deif, it added. Israel said in early August it had killed Deif in an air strike in southern Gaza in July, but Hamas has not confirmed his death. The court said it had issued the arrest warrant as the prosecutor had not been able to determine whether or not Deif was dead.
The court's chief prosecutor Karim Khan urged the body's members to act on the warrants, and for non-members to work together for "upholding international law". "I appeal .
