Israel’s stance appears to be softening in Gaza ceasefire talks: Live updates

If the court proceeds, Israeli officials could potentially be accused of blocking the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and responding excessively harshly to the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on Israel, five of the officials said. All according to the two, some of whom spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Israeli officials, concerned about the potential fallout from such a case, said they believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is among those who could be named in the warrant. It is unclear who will be charged on behalf of Hamas or what crimes will be cited.

Israeli officials did not disclose the nature of the information that caused them to be concerned about possible ICC action, and the court did not comment on the case.

The arrest warrant from the court will probably be seen as a gentle moral rebuke in much of the world, especially for Israel, which has faced international backlash over its conduct in Gaza for months, including from President Biden, Who called it “over the top”. ,

It could also influence Israel’s policies as the country ramps up its military campaign against Hamas. One of the Israeli officials said the possibility of the court issuing an arrest warrant has informed Israeli decision-making in recent weeks.

Israeli and foreign officials said they did not know what stage the process was at. Any warrant would require approval from a panel of judges and would not necessarily result in a prosecution or even the immediate arrest of the target.

The court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, previously confirmed that his team is investigating incidents during the war, but his office declined to comment for this article, saying it was “based on speculation in media reports.” Doesn’t respond.”

Mr Netanyahu’s office also would not comment, but on Friday the prime minister said on social media that any intervention by the ICC “would set a dangerous precedent that would endanger the soldiers and officers of all democracies fighting brutal terrorism and wanton aggression.” Will put it.”

Mr Netanyahu did not say what prompted his statement, although he may have been responding to speculation in the Israeli press about the arrest warrant.

He also said: “Under my leadership, Israel will never accept any attempt by the ICC to weaken its inherent right to self-defense. The threat to seize soldiers and officers of the Middle East’s only democracy and the world’s only Jewish state is outrageous. We will not bow before this.”

Based in The Hague, the ICC is the only permanent international court in the world with the power to prosecute individuals accused of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. The Court has no police force of its own. Instead, it relies on its 124 members, which include most European countries, but not Israel or the United States, to arrest people named in warrants. It cannot try defendants in their absence.

But court warrants could create travel barriers for their designated officials.

The Hamas-led attack last October killed about 1,200 people in Israel and abducted about 250 others, according to Israeli officials. According to Gaza officials, the subsequent war in Gaza, including heavy Israeli bombardment, killed more than 34,000 people, caused widespread damage to housing and infrastructure and brought the region to the brink of famine.

The Israeli offensive in Gaza led to a separate court in The Hague, the International Court of Justice, hearing genocide charges against the Israeli state and sparked a wave of protests on college campuses in the United States.

If the ICC issues arrest warrants, they will come with a deep stigma, putting those named in them in the same category as foreign leaders such as Sudan’s ousted President Omar al-Bashir and Russian President Vladimir V. Putin. Last year he was the subject of a warrant related to the war against Ukraine.

The ICC’s focus on individuals rather than states distinguishes it from the International Court of Justice, which adjudicates disputes between states.

ICC judges have ruled that the court has jurisdiction over Gaza and the West Bank since the Palestinians joined the court as the State of Palestine.

Mr. Khan has said that his team will investigate the events that occurred since October 7 and that he will “look at the evidence objectively and vindicate the rights of victims, whether they are in Israel or Palestine.”

Mr Khan’s office is also investigating allegations of war crimes committed during the 2014 war between Israel and Hamas; One of the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, believes the new arrest warrants will be an extension of that investigation.

Hamas and the Israeli military did not respond to requests for comment. The office of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant declined to comment.

In general, Israeli officials say they fight according to the laws of war and that they take significant steps to protect civilians, accusing Hamas of hiding inside civilian areas and forcing Israel to pursue them there. Let’s apply. Hamas has denied committing atrocities on 7 October, saying – despite video evidence to the contrary – that its fighters tried to avoid harming civilians.

Marlies Simmons, gabby sobelman And Mayra Noveck Contributed to the reporting.