ICC rejects Israel's request to withdraw arrest warrants for Netanyahu
The decision, published on the ICC's website, also dismissed Israel's request to suspend the wider investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Palestinian Territories.
Arrest warrants were issued on November 21, 2023, for Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim al-Masri in connection with the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The court later canceled the warrant for al-Masri in February after receiving credible reports of his death.
Israel has rejected the jurisdiction of the Hague-based court and denies committing war crimes in Gaza, where it has been conducting military operations since a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. It has argued that an April ruling by the ICC's appeals chamber, ordering a review of its jurisdictional objections, renders the arrest warrants invalid.
However, ICC judges said that the jurisdictional challenge is still pending and that the arrest warrants will remain in effect until a final decision is made. The court has not set a timeline for its ruling on the matter.
In June, the United States imposed sanctions on four ICC judges in response to the court's decision to issue a warrant for Netanyahu. Two of the sanctioned judges were part of the panel that rejected Israel's latest request.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
a minute ago
- The National
Netanyahu 'leaning towards occupying Gaza'
Israel 's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leaning towards ordering a "full occupation" of Gaza, Israeli media reported on Monday, despite massive pressure to end the war. Mr Netanyahu said he would convene his security cabinet this week to discuss how to instruct the military to meet his war goals in Gaza. Israel's Channel 12 cited an official from his office as saying that Mr Netanyahu was inclining towards expanding the offensive and seizing the entire enclave. There was no immediate confirmation. "We must continue to stand together and fight together to achieve all our war objectives: the defeat of the enemy, the release of our hostages, and the assurance that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel," Mr Netanyahu told a regular cabinet meeting on Monday. Any expansion of the war would be met with dismay by Palestinians and Middle East countries who have sought to end the 22-month conflict. It is unclear whether a 'full occupation' would improve or worsen the desperate humanitarian situation in the strip. Gaza's health authorities said 180 people have now died of starvation – 93 of them children – under Israel 's blockade of the territory. Israeli troops ended a two-month ceasefire in March and began taking control of large parts of Gaza. Mr Netanyahu said on July 25 that Israel and the US were "considering alternative options" to bring hostages home and end Hamas's rule of Gaza, without explaining what those might be. It came after talks on a proposed 60-day truce collapsed as negotiators were pulled out of Qatar. US envoy Steve Witkoff had said during a visit to the Middle East last week that he was working with Israeli government on a plan that would effectively end the war in Gaza. President Donald Trump himself has said ending the conflict is a priority for his administration. However, months of negotiations mediated by the US, Qatar and Egypt have failed to reach a deal as Israel's government faces mounting pressure over humanitarian conditions in the enclave. Hamas would be open to negotiating a comprehensive Gaza deal that would end the war in the Palestinian enclave and free all the hostages it holds, sources told The National on Monday. That would be a shift away from talks on a temporary ceasefire.
Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
Netanyahu leaning toward seizing Gaza, Israeli TV says
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leaning toward expanding the offensive in Gaza and seizing the entire enclave, Israel's Channel 12 cited an official from his office as saying on Monday. Netanyahu will be convening his cabinet on Tuesday to make a decision on the matter, Israeli media reported.
Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Israeli government votes to fire prosecutor in Netanyahu corruption case
The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voted unanimously on Monday to fire attorney general Gali Baharav-Miara, who is prosecuting him in a corruption case involving bribery, fraud and breach of trust. The Supreme Court of Israel immediately blocked the decision, and Baharav-Miara will keep her job until an appeals process concludes.
