By Burnett Munthali
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military commander Mohammed al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Dief, over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
According to a statement from the ICC, Netanyahu and Gallant face accusations of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity from October 8, 2023, until at least May 20, 2024. The court alleges that the two Israeli leaders intentionally and knowingly deprived civilians in Gaza of essential survival resources, including food, water, medicine, medical supplies, fuel, and electricity. These actions are said to have contributed to severe humanitarian crises in Gaza during the conflict
The ICC’s ruling also includes an arrest warrant for Hamas’s military commander, Mohammed al-Masri, accusing him of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Israel and Palestine starting from October 7, 2023. The charges are tied to violent actions in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The court’s decision marks a significant move in the international legal landscape, as it continues to hold individuals accountable for actions that may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity in the context of global conflicts. The arrest warrants are expected to increase international pressure on those implicated and bring attention to the ongoing violence in the region.
