Netanyahu, others’ arrest warrants: France, Belgium back ICC

France and Belgium have openly supported the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim A. A. Khan, over his calls for arrest warrants of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar.

It could be recalled that Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reported on Monday that Khan sought an arrest warrant for Sinwar and Netanyahu.

Others are Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, and 2 other Hamas leaders, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh.

Khan, in a statement, wants them arrested for crimes against humanity over the situation in the State of Palestine.

Khan said the application was based on evidence collected and examined by his office and indicted Hamas leaders.

He called on ICC to issue arrest warrant for:

1. Yahya Sinwar (Head of the Islamic Resistance Movement (“Hamas”) in the Gaza Strip),
2. Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Asri, more commonly known as Deif (Commander-in-Chief of the military wing of Hamas, known as the Al-Qassam Brigades), and,
3. Ismail Haniyeh (Head of Hamas Political Bureau).

The ICC Prosecutor said the three bear criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The crimes, he said, were committed on the territory of Israel and the State of Palestine (in the Gaza strip) from at least 7 October 2023.

He listed the following grounds for prosecution:

1. Extermination as a crime against humanity,
2. Murder as a crime against humanity,
3. Taking hostages as a war crime,
4. Rape and other acts of sexual violence as crimes against humanity,
5. Torture as a crime against humanity and also as a war crime,
6. Other inhumane acts as a crime against humanity,
7. Cruel treatment as a war crime, and,
8. Outrages upon personal dignity as a war crime.

Khan held that the war crimes in the applications were committed in the armed conflict between Israel and Hamas.

He, therefore, submitted that the crimes targeted the civilian population of Israel by Hamas and its armed groups.

Netanyahu

On the part of Israel, the ICC Persecutor indicted Benjamin Netanyahu and the Minister of Defence, Yoav Gallant.

He said the two bear criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

ICC accused Netanyahu and Gallant of starvation of civilians, willfully causing great suffering, serious injury to body or health and willful killing of civilian population.

Other charges include extermination or murder, persecution and other inhumane acts contrary to Rome Statute.

Khan said: “Israel has intentionally and systematically deprived the civilian population in all parts of Gaza of objects indispensable to human survival.

“This occurred through the imposition of a total siege over Gaza that involved completely closing the three border crossing points, Rafah, Kerem Shalom and Erez, from 8 October 2023 for extended periods…

“Arbitrarily restricting the transfer of essential supplies – including food and medicine – through the border crossings after they were reopened.

“The siege also included cutting off cross-border water pipelines from Israel to Gaza – Gazans’ principal source of clean water – for a prolonged period beginning 9 October 2023…

“Cutting off and hindering electricity supplies from at least 8 October 2023 until today.

“This took place alongside other attacks on civilians, including those queuing for food; obstruction of aid delivery by humanitarian agencies…

“Attacks on and killing of aid workers, which forced many agencies to cease or limit their operations in Gaza.”

He, therefore, requested the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrant against Sinwar, Al-Asri, Haniyeh, Netanyahu and Gallant.

Reactions

Reacting to the request, Israel’s defense minister slammed the court’s prosecutor and accused him of bias.

Gallant described Khan’s creating a parallel between the militant group and Israel as “despicable and disgusting.”

He noted, anyway, that Israel is not party to the International Criminal Court and does not recognize its authority.

He also stressed that Israel has a right to defend itself against aggression from any individual or state.

“Prosecutor Karim Khan’s attempt to deny the state of Israel the right to defend herself and ensure the release of the hostages held in Gaza, must be rejected explicitly,” he added.

United States President Joe Biden also lambasted Khan and supported Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas.

However, other Western powers do not feel same as President Biden.

France issued a statement supporting ICC’s chief prosecutor’s arrest warrant requests for Israel and Hamas leaders.

“France supports the International Criminal Court, its independence, and the fight against impunity in all situations,” French Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

Belgium has also taken a stance similar to France’s.

Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hadja Lahbib posted a statement on X, formerly Twitter.

The statement reads in part: “Crimes committed in Gaza must be prosecuted at the highest level, regardless of the perpetrators.”

Netanyahu versus West

Netanyahu and Gallant, presently, do not face imminent arrest in the meantime.

However, ICC’s announcement served a symbolic blow that further isolated Israel from its allies and supporters.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces said they raided a militant stronghold early hour of Tuesday in the occupied West Bank.

The attack left at least seven militants killed with several others wounded, Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed.

Israel had launched an offensive against Hamas after the militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.

The militants had stormed southern Israel, killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted about 250.

At least 35,000 Palestinians have died in the Israeli counter-offensive, says Gaza’s Health Ministry.

It also reported that about 80% of its 2.3 million population has been displaced.

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