ICC postpones issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister and Defense Minister

Photo: Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has decided to postpone consideration of the issue of issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes during the operation in the Gaza Strip. This was reported by the Jerusalem Post.

The postponement followed after on June 10, the UK, as a “friend of the court,” filed a request for observations on the ICC's jurisdiction over Israel.

The court gave other countries until July 12, 2024 to file similar applications, noting that this is not an open call. The Jerusalem Post notes that the entire process of issuing arrest warrants could then drag on for months.

The UK's comments will be considered by members of the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber. The deliberation process can be public, although usually the procedures for issuing arrest warrants remain secret so as not to alert suspects.

The fact that ICC prosecutor Karim Khan has requested the issuance of arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Galant became known on May 20 . At the same time, the ICC requested arrest warrants for three leaders of the Hamas group, recognized as terrorist in the United States and the European Union, — Yahya Sinwar, Muhammad Deif and Ismail Haniya. It is unknown whether the issuance of arrest warrants for them, along with those for Netanyahu and Galant, will also be delayed.

Israel and the United States, as well as other Israeli allies, oppose the ICC's jurisdiction over Netanyahu and Galant on a number of grounds. US President Joe Biden called the ICC intervention in relation to Israel outrageous.

Neither Israel nor the United States recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC.

Prepared by: Sergei Daga