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ICC issues arrest warrants for Israel’s Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas leader

ICC issues arrest warrants for Israel’s Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas leader
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Yoav Gallant during a press conference, Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, Israel. 28 October 2023. (Photo: Abir Sultan/Pool via Reuters/File Photo)
Judges at the International Criminal Court have issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief, as well as a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.




The move comes after ICC prosecutor Karim Khan announced on 20 May 2024 that he was seeking arrest warrants for alleged crimes connected to the 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas and the Israeli military response in Gaza.

The ICC said Israel’s acceptance of the court’s jurisdiction was not required.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, ICC Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Yoav Gallant during a press conference at Kirya military base in Tel Aviv on 28 October 2023. (Photo: Abir Sultan / Pool via Reuters / File Photo)



Read more: Israel-Palestine War

Read more: Middle East crisis

Israel has rejected the jurisdiction of the Hague-based court and denies war crimes in Gaza. Israel has said it killed Al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, in an air strike, but Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied this. Reuters/DM

(Reporting by Toby Sterling and Charlotte Van Campenhout; Writing by Stephanie van den Berg, Makini BriceEditing by Peter Graff).