International Criminal Court Seeks Arrest Warrants for Hamas’s Leader and Israel PM 

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing arrest warrants for Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the October 7 attacks on Israel and the ensuing conflict in Gaza. 

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan says that the ICC is also seeking warrants for Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and two other senior Hamas leaders: Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, known as Mohammed Deif, the leader of the Al Qassem Brigades, and Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’ political leader.

This action marks the first time the ICC has targeted the top leader of a U.S. ally, placing Netanyahu alongside figures like Russian President Vladimir Putin, who faces an ICC arrest warrant over the Ukraine conflict, and the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, who was under an ICC warrant for alleged crimes against humanity at the time of his death in 2011. Khan’s simultaneous pursuit of arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders may draw criticism for seemingly equating a recognized government with a terrorist organization.

Khan mentioned that his team has gathered substantial evidence to support the arrest warrant applications, including authenticated videos, photographs, and testimonies from eyewitnesses and survivors.

He also asserted that Israel has the right and obligation to recover the hostages, but must adhere to legal standards in doing so.