The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan, on Monday announced that his office is seeking arrest warrants before Pre-Trial Chamber I against the Israeli leaders which include; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders Yehia Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh respectively

Prosecutor Karim seeks ICC’s arrest warrants for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on the Palestinian’s Gaza Strip from 8th October 2023.

According to the ICC Chief Prosecutor Khan, the crimes committed by both the Israeli and Hamas leaders are cited under articles 7 and 8 of the Rome Statute which relate to:

Starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, willfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health, willful killing or murder as a war crime, intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population and persecution as a crime against humanity.

ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan statement

However, a panel of three judges will have to examine the prosecutor’s evidence first to determine whether the case is worthy proceeding or not before issuing arrest warrants against the leaders standing accused of the crimes.

Israel is not a member of the ICC but if the arrest warrants are issued, it will pose a risk isolating its leaders from travelling abroad particularly to countries that are parties to the Rome Statute.

Media reports indicated that Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz termed ICC Prosecutor Khan move as “a historic disgrace that will be remembered forever,” and would fight back that to make sure warrants are not enforced on the Israeli leaders.

Also Hamas group denounced the ICC decision for seeking warrants against its leaders.

On October 7 Hamas militants from Gaza crossed from Gaza to Israel territory and 1,200 people who were mostly civilians and 250 hostages.

Subsequently, Israel launched counter offensive in the Hamas Gaza Strip with the promised to wipe out the militants.