Amal Clooney, a renowned human rights lawyer, was among the legal experts advocating for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leaders. The recommendation was made to the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to alleged war crimes committed during a seven-month war in Gaza. The panel of experts unanimously agreed on this course of action, emphasizing the importance of upholding the rule of law to protect civilian lives.
The ICC chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, announced his intention to pursue the arrest warrants. While Netanyahu and Gallant denounced the move, U.S. President Joe Biden supported Israel’s right to self-defense. Although Israel is not an ICC member, the potential warrants could impact the travel of the accused leaders. The conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with thousands of casualties and widespread displacement in Gaza.
The decision on issuing the arrest warrants will be made by a panel of ICC judges, a process that typically takes two months. The international legal community and global leaders closely monitor developments in this high-profile case.