The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The charges against Netanyahu and Gallant relate to actions in Gaza, where over 44,000 deaths have been reported during Israel’s military campaign. The ICC accuses them of intentionally depriving Gaza’s civilian population of essential supplies like food, water, medicine, and electricity, and obstructing humanitarian aid. They are also alleged to have ordered attacks targeting civilians.
Israel condemned the warrants as “antisemitic” and politically biased, while Hamas called them a step toward justice but criticized their limited scope. The United States, which does not recognize ICC jurisdiction, rejected the warrants, calling the process flawed.
Deif, a key figure in the October 7 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and saw 250 taken hostage, faces charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ICC also acknowledged prior attempts to issue warrants for other Hamas leaders who have since been killed.
Critics, including Israeli President Isaac Herzog, dismissed the ICC’s decision as unjust and politically motivated, while human rights advocates hailed it as a significant move toward accountability. The warrants put the accused at risk of arrest in ICC member states, though enforcement remains uncertain as Israel and the U.S. do not recognize the court.
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