Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken of his “disgust” at an application from the International Criminal Court prosecutor for an arrest warrant targeting him.
Prosecutor Karim Khan KC has applied for arrest warrants to be issued for Israel’s prime minister and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar over alleged war crimes.
He is also seeking arrest warrants for Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant – and other top Hamas leaders Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al Masri, more commonly known as Deif (commander-in-chief of the military wing of Hamas, known as the al Qassam Brigades), and Ismail Haniyeh (head of Hamas’s political bureau).
Mr Netanyahu said: “As prime minister of Israel, I reject with disgust the Hague prosecutor’s comparison between democratic Israel and the mass murderers of Hamas.
“With what audacity do you compare Hamas that murdered, burned, butchered, decapitated, raped and kidnapped our brothers and sisters and the IDF soldiers fighting a just war.
“No pressure and no decision in any international forum will prevent us from striking those who seek to destroy us.”
US President Joe Biden said the move by the ICC prosecutor was “outrageous”.
He added: “Let me be clear: whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no equivalence – none – between Israel and Hamas.”
It comes against the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
In a statement, Mr Khan outlined the reasons his office was applying for the arrest warrants.
“Now, more than ever, we must collectively demonstrate that international humanitarian law, the foundational baseline for human conduct during conflict, applies to all individuals and applies equally across the situations addressed by my office and the court,” he said.
“This is how we will prove, tangibly, that the lives of all human beings have equal value.”
On the Hamas leaders, he said he has reasonable grounds to believe they “bear criminal responsibility” for “war crimes and crimes against humanity”.
He outlined a list of alleged crimes, including murder, taking hostages and rape and other acts of sexual violence.
“We submit that the crimes against humanity charged were part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Israel by Hamas and other armed groups pursuant to organisational policies. Some of these crimes, in our assessment, continue to this day,” he said.
Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house in Gaza. Pic: Reuters
On Mr Netanyahu and his defence minister Mr Gallant, Mr Khan said he has reasonable grounds to believe they too “bear criminal responsibility” for “war crimes and crimes against humanity”.
He outlined a list of alleged crimes, including “starvation of civilians” and “intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population”.
“We submit that the crimes against humanity charged were committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack against the Palestinian civilian population pursuant to state policy. These crimes, in our assessment, continue to this day,” he said.
The pair have overseen Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza since the Palestinian militant group’s deadly 7 October raid on Israel.
A senior Hamas official responding to the ICC action said the court’s decision “equates the victim with the executioner”.
Benny Gantz, a former military chief and member of Israel’s war cabinet, harshly criticised Mr Khan’s announcement, saying Israel fights with “one of the strictest” moral codes and has a robust judiciary capable of investigating itself.
How has the UK reacted?
A spokesman for UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the ICC’s action was “not helpful in relation to reaching a pause in the fighting, getting hostages out or getting humanitarian aid in”.
Mr Sunak said earlier this month he was “deeply concerned” about an Israeli military offensive in Rafah, and has called for more aid to enter Gaza.
However, he has also repeatedly defended Israel’s right to defend itself.
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What happens now?
It will be up to a panel of pre-trial judges to determine whether the evidence supports the issuing of arrest warrants.
It is expected they will take around two months to consider the evidence and determine if the matter can move forward.
Israel is not a member of the court, and even if the arrest warrants are issued, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant do not face any immediate risk of prosecution.
The court has no means to enforce arrest warrants and its investigation into the Gaza war has long been opposed by the US and Israel.
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But Mr Khan’s announcement deepens Israel’s isolation as it presses ahead with the conflict, and the threat of arrest could make it difficult for the Israeli leaders to travel abroad.
Israel is also facing a South African case in the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide. Israel denies those charges.
