The chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has announced that he is seeking arrest warrants for the Israeli Prime Minister, the Israeli Defence Minister and some leaders of Hamas.
The applications are being filed on the basis of evidence examined by the office of prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan KC.
The ICC charges say that the individuals sought bear responsibility for War Crimes and Crimes against humanity
The warrants are being sought for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Yoav Gallant the Minister of defence for Israel.
Warrants are also being sought for the leader of Hamas Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the military wing commonly known as the Al-Quassam Brigades and the head of the Hamas political bureau.
‘Against a civilian population’
The war crimes and crimes against humanity being levelled at the two Israeli leaders are:
Starvation of civilians as a method of warfare as a war crime;
Wilfully causing great suffering, or serious injury to body, health, or cruel treatment as a war crime;
Wilful killing contrary to or murder as a war crime;
Intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population as a war crime;
Extermination and/or murder, including in the context of deaths caused by starvation, as a crime against humanity;
Persecution as a crime against humanity;
Other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity.
Source: International Criminal Court
“No power in the world will prevent us from bringing back all our hostages and toppling the Hamas terror regime
Israel’s Foreign Minister
Israel’s Foreign Minister has responded to the ICC by saying “while Hamas murderers and rapists commit crimes against humanity against our brothers and sisters, the Prosecutor mentions in the same breath the Prime Minister and Defense Minister of Israel alongside the vile Nazi-like monsters of Hamas
“I intend to speak with foreign ministers of leading countries around the world to urge them to oppose the Prosecutor’s decision and declare that even if warrants are issued, they do not intend to enforce them against Israeli leaders.
‘In the context of captivity’
The war crimes and crimes against humanity being levelled at the Hamas leaders are:
Extermination as a crime against humanity;
Murder as a crime against humanity and as a war crime;
Taking hostages as a war crime;
Rape and other acts of sexual violence as crimes against humanity, and also as war crimes pursuant to in the context of captivity;
Torture as a crime against humanity, and also as a war crime, in the context of captivity;
Other inhumane acts as a crime against humanity, in the context of captivity;
Cruel treatment as a war crime, in the context of captivity;
Outrages upon personal dignity as a war crime, in the context of captivity.
Source: International Criminal Court
This is a developing story, we will bring you more details as they come. Please refresh the page to update.
HeadlineICC seeking arrest warrant applications for Israeli and Hamas leaders
Short HeadlineArrest warrant applications for Israeli and Hamas leaders
StandfirstAn International Criminal Court prosecutor is filing applications for arrest for war crimes.
The chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has announced that he is seeking arrest warrants for the Israeli Prime Minister, the Israeli Defence Minister and some leaders of Hamas.
The applications are being filed on the basis of evidence examined by the office of prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan KC.
The ICC charges say that the individuals sought bear responsibility for War Crimes and Crimes against humanity
The warrants are being sought for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Yoav Gallant the Minister of defence for Israel.
Warrants are also being sought for the leader of Hamas Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the military wing commonly known as the Al-Quassam Brigades and the head of the Hamas political bureau.
‘Against a civilian population’
The war crimes and crimes against humanity being levelled at the two Israeli leaders are:
Starvation of civilians as a method of warfare as a war crime;
Wilfully causing great suffering, or serious injury to body, health, or cruel treatment as a war crime;
Wilful killing contrary to or murder as a war crime;
Intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population as a war crime;
Extermination and/or murder, including in the context of deaths caused by starvation, as a crime against humanity;
Persecution as a crime against humanity;
Other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity.
Source: International Criminal Court
“No power in the world will prevent us from bringing back all our hostages and toppling the Hamas terror regime
Israel’s Foreign Minister
Israel’s Foreign Minister has responded to the ICC by saying “while Hamas murderers and rapists commit crimes against humanity against our brothers and sisters, the Prosecutor mentions in the same breath the Prime Minister and Defense Minister of Israel alongside the vile Nazi-like monsters of Hamas
“I intend to speak with foreign ministers of leading countries around the world to urge them to oppose the Prosecutor’s decision and declare that even if warrants are issued, they do not intend to enforce them against Israeli leaders.
‘In the context of captivity’
The war crimes and crimes against humanity being levelled at the Hamas leaders are:
Extermination as a crime against humanity;
Murder as a crime against humanity and as a war crime;
Taking hostages as a war crime;
Rape and other acts of sexual violence as crimes against humanity, and also as war crimes pursuant to in the context of captivity;
Torture as a crime against humanity, and also as a war crime, in the context of captivity;
Other inhumane acts as a crime against humanity, in the context of captivity;
Cruel treatment as a war crime, in the context of captivity;
Outrages upon personal dignity as a war crime, in the context of captivity.
