Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials are under pressure from the International Criminal Court (ICC) to face charges of war crimes, according to reports from Israeli media. The ICC has initiated an investigation into allegations that Israel committed war crimes during the 2014 campaign against Hamas, in settlement programs in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and in its treatment of Palestinian protesters in the Gaza Strip.
Despite not being a member of the ICC and not recognizing its jurisdiction, Israel is at risk of facing arrest warrants for its leaders, including Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. The possibility of an arrest warrant has put immense pressure on Netanyahu, leading him to have continuous discussions with relevant parties, particularly the administration of US President Joe Biden.
Experts believe that an ICC arrest warrant for Israeli leaders could greatly harm Israel’s international reputation. South Africa has also filed a lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for allegedly committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. However, the ICJ ruled that Israel must fulfill its humanitarian obligations in the Gaza Strip and prevent and punish any acts of inciting genocide but did not consider the claim of genocide against Israel.
