The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister, and a Hamas military leader, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. This comes as the death toll in Gaza surpasses 44,000, following over a year of conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The warrants mark the first time a sitting leader of a major Western ally has been targeted by the ICC for such charges. The court found reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and his ex-defense minister are responsible for crimes including starvation, murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.
Israel’s military campaign has devastated Gaza, leaving much of the 2.3 million-strong population displaced and reliant on aid. The territory has suffered widespread destruction, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
The conflict began in October 2023 when Hamas militants launched an attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 250 others. Though many hostages have been released, an estimated 100 remain in Gaza, with at least a third presumed dead.
The ICC’s actions have escalated international attention on the ongoing violence, as both Israel and Hamas face allegations of committing war crimes during the conflict.
