The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on 20 May that he is seeking arrest warrants against the leaders of both Hamas and Israel for war crimes and crimes against humanity. This has huge implications for the war in Gaza, the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and for international justice. It is also the first time that an ICC prosecutor has applied for a warrant against the political leader of a Western ally. How Europeans should respondThe warrant application adds to the list of evidence suggesting both Hamas and Israel have committed violations of international law. If the arrest warrants are confirmed, Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu and defence minister Yoav Gallant will face arrest if they visit countries that are members of the ICC, including most of Europe.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 21, 2024 13:56 UTC