The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) sought arrest warrants for Israeli leaders and Hamas leaders over alleged war crimes during their seven-month conflict, Associated Press reports.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, alongside Hamas leaders Yehya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh, face accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza and Israel. The ICC’s decision, pending approval by a panel of judges, could impact Netanyahu’s international standing and travel.
Both Israel and Hamas condemned the prosecutor’s actions, with US President Joe Biden defending Israel’s right to self-defense and criticizing the prosecutor’s efforts. The ICC, established in 2002, prosecutes severe international crimes, but many countries, including Israel and the US, do not recognize its jurisdiction.
