ICC Prosecutor Requests Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas Leaders

May 20, 2024 TruthUSA

The Hamas leaders are accused of being complicit in mass killings, kidnappings, rapes, and tortures, while the Israeli leaders are charged with their own war crimes.

A prosecutor from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague has called for the arrest of Hamas leaders, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his cabinet. Read more.

ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan announced on Monday that his office had gathered enough evidence to prosecute Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, as well as the leader of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, and Hamas’ political head Ismail Haniyeh for war crimes and crimes against humanity that occurred on Oct. 7, 2023.

According to Mr. Khan, the Hamas leaders may be held accountable for the killings and kidnappings carried out by Hamas members during the Oct. 7 attack, as well as allegations of rape and other forms of sexual violence that occurred during the attack and in its aftermath.

Mr. Khan stated, “It is the view of my Office that these individuals planned and instigated the commission of crimes on 7 October 2023, and have acknowledged their responsibility for those crimes through their actions, including personal visits to hostages shortly after their kidnapping.”

The ICC prosecutor filed for the arrest of these Hamas leaders concurrently with an application for the arrest of Mr. Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

While accusing the Hamas leaders of complicity in mass killings, kidnappings, rapes, and tortures, Mr. Khan has also accused the Israeli leaders of their own war crimes in the way they have conducted their military response in the Gaza Strip in the seven months following the attack. He alleged that both Israeli leaders have used starvation as a method of warfare and have allowed deliberate killings and attacks on civilian populations.

Mr. Khan stated, “My Office submits that the war crimes alleged in these applications were committed in the context of an international armed conflict between Israel and Palestine, and a non-international armed conflict between Israel and Hamas (together with other Palestinian Armed Groups) running in parallel. We submit that the crimes against humanity charged were committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack against the Palestinian civilian population pursuant to State policy. These crimes, in our assessment, continue to this day.”