The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in a development aligns with South Africa’s long-standing position on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The ICC’s decision follows Israel’s September appeals challenging the court’s jurisdiction and requesting a new notice on the investigation.
The court deemed these actions premature, affirming its jurisdiction over Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Netanyahu and Gallant face charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including the use of starvation as a warfare method, murder and persecution committed between October 2023 and May 2024.
“The Chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of object indispensable to their survival, including food, water and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity,” the three-judge panel wrote in its unanimous decision to issue warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.
South Africa has since January pushed for Israel’s actions against Palestinians to be declared crimes against humanity.
The Zionist state has since October 2023 bombarded the Gaza Strip in Palestine, killing tens of thousands of civilians, mostly women and children.
The ICC’s move has sparked international reactions, with US President Joe Biden expressing strong disapproval and US Speaker Mike Johnson warning of potential sanctions against the ICC.
This decision marks a significant milestone in the ICC’s commitment to international justice and highlights the ongoing global debate over accountability in conflict zones.
JN/APA