Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that any decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is investigating the October 7 attacks by Hamas and Israel’s military assault on Gaza, would not affect Israeli actions but would set a dangerous precedent. This was reported by the Reuters agency.
“Under my leadership, Israel will never accept any attempt by the International Criminal Court in The Hague to undermine its fundamental right to defense,” Netanyahu said in a statement on the Telegram social network. “While the Hague court’s decision will not affect Israeli actions, it will set a dangerous precedent that will endanger soldiers and public figures,” he said.
One of Israel’s leading television news stations, Channel 12, reported last week that Israel is increasingly concerned about the possibility of the MTS issuing arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials for violating international law.
The ICC’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, said in October that the court has jurisdiction over all potential war crimes committed by both Hamas fighters in Israel and Israelis in the Gaza Strip. While Israel is not a member of the ICC and does not recognize its jurisdiction, the Palestinian Territories was admitted as a member state in 2015.
Khan said his team is actively investigating any crimes allegedly committed in Gaza and that those who break the law will be held accountable.
International Criminal Court (ICC)
The ICC was established in 2002 and is an independent body that is not part of the UN. Its task is to judge the perpetrators of crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes in the world. Motions to initiate a trial may be made by the state concerned, the prosecutor of the tribunal, or the UN Security Council.
Hamas attacked Israeli military bases and communities on October 7 last year. According to Israeli authorities, 1,200 people were killed and 253 were taken hostage during the attack.
Israel has since launched a ground, air and sea offensive in Gaza that authorities there say has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians and destroyed much of its territory. The offensive, now in its seventh month, has sparked a humanitarian crisis.
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