The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister, and several Hamas officials, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the Gaza conflict and the October 2023 attacks that sparked Israel’s offensive.
This decision makes Netanyahu and the other internationally wanted suspects, potentially complicating efforts for a ceasefire and further isolating them. However, its practical impact may be limited as both Israel and its key ally, the United States, are not members of the ICC, and some of the Hamas officials named in the warrants have been killed during the ongoing conflict.
Netanyahu and other Israeli officials condemned the request for warrants, calling it disgraceful and antisemitic. U.S. President Joe Biden also criticized the ICC prosecutor and reiterated support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas. Hamas, too, condemned the warrants.
