Israel is on edge as the International Criminal Court (ICC) may issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and senior military officials. The Israeli official told NBC News that the warrants could come as early as this week, sparking concern and diplomatic efforts to prevent their issuance.
The ICC has been investigating possible war crimes committed by both Israel and Palestinian militants since the Israel-Hamas war in 2014. While there has been no public indication of imminent arrest warrants, the pressure on Israel to halt its military offensive in Gaza is mounting.
Prime Minister Netanyahu recently spoke with President Joe Biden, awaiting a response from Hamas on a new cease-fire proposal. The potential arrest warrants would not necessarily lead to jail time for Netanyahu, but they could put Israeli officials at risk of arrest in other countries, including much of Europe.
The move would also serve as a high-profile statement on Israel’s actions in Gaza, potentially embarrassing Netanyahu and putting him alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin as a major leader facing ICC action. Netanyahu has vehemently rejected any attempts by the ICC to undermine Israel’s right to self-defense.
The ICC, based in The Hague, can charge individuals with war crimes, and the situation has sparked concern within the Israeli government. Foreign Minister Israel Katz warned that such warrants would boost the morale of Hamas and other militant groups. Israel and the U.S. have both dismissed accusations of genocide in Gaza, emphasizing their lack of support for the ICC’s investigation.